Behavioral and biochemical correlates of chronic administration of quipazine.

In Experiment 1 groups of rats received single injections of 1, 3, 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg quipazine, and their total 24-hr food and water intake after a 24-hr deprivation period was recorded; there was a dose-related reduction of both food and water intake. In Experiment 2 a group of 15 rats received 5 mg/kg/day, SC quipazine during 29 days, and a control group received saline injections. During treatment, all animals were exposed to a 24-hr food and water deprivation schedule, alternated with 24 hr of free access. Food and water consumption was measured 2 and 24 hr after drug injection; regional 5-HT concentrations were determined at 1 and 13 treatment days by fluorometric assay. Beginning the first treatment day, food and water intake decreased, but by the 13th day the quipazine group had returned to normal ingestion levels. 5-HT concentrations were increased in cerebellum and cortex in acute conditions, but after 13 days they had decreased in cerebellar samples. In Experiment 3 we found that the effects of quipazine on food and water ingestion were recovered after 14 days of discontinuing chronic drug administration.