Deficient prepulse inhibition induced by selective breeding of rats can be restored by the dopamine D2 antagonist haloperidol.

Deficient sensorimotor gating, measured as prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle, reflects disturbed information processing found in neuropsychiatric disorders. Examining the ability to selectively breed rats for high and low PPI, results showed significant differences of PPI scores within two generations. Comparing antipsychotics to restore PPI of the low group, haloperidol was shown more effective than clozapine. This suggests low PPI rats may be useful models for neuropsychiatric disorders and screening antipsychotics.