Behavioural correlates to the dopamine D-1 and D-2 antagonists.

The acute dopamine (DA) receptor blockade of neuroleptics can be demonstrated in mice by antagonism of stereotypies induced by the DA-agonist methylphenidate and in rats by antagonism of stereotypies induced by the DA-agonists amphetamine or apomorphine. Neuroleptics such as the thioxanthene, cis(Z)-flupentixol, the phenothiazine, fluphenazine, the butyrophenone, haloperidol and the benzamide clebopride are equipotent behaviourally as well as clinically. Also the D-1 receptor-antagonist SCH 23390 has the same pharmacological effects. In a series of experiments where the methylphenidate-induced stereotyped gnawing in mice was inhibited by neuroleptics it was shown that the effect of butyrophenones was greatly attenuated by concomitant treatment with scopolamine and diazepam. Similar results were obtained in rats experiments. The effect of phenothiazines was less influenced and that of thioxanthenes and SCH 23390 remained nearly unchanged. Besides, a clear differentiation of these drugs was seen when they were tested in mice rendered supersensitive by 12 days treatment with different neuroleptics. In the withdrawal phase the decrease effects against methylphenidate were shown by increased ED50 values for methylphenidate antagonism and an increased response to methylphenidate. The thioxanthenes and SCH 23390 retained the ability to antagonize the stereotyped gnawing, the phenothiazines showed a reduced effect, whereas the butyrophenones showed both tolerance and cross tolerance to the stereotyped behaviour. This behavioural classification of neuroleptics into three different groups is comparable with the classification obtained by DA-receptor binding techniques in vitro.