Abstract
We examined the effects of chronic (2 weeks) treatment with a typical neuroleptic, haloperidol (1 mg/kg, s.c.), and an atypical neuroleptic, clozapine (20 mg/kg, s.c.), on neurotensin receptor (NTR) mRNA levels by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Quantitative OD analysis showed haloperidol-induced NTR mRNA levels in the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/ VTA) 110% over control levels (significant difference from the control, p < 0.05). In contrast, the same analysis applied to the sections from clozapine-treated animals showed no significant change in NTR mRNA levels compared with matched control sections (p > 0.05). Thus, chronic treatment with haloperidol but not clozapine resulted in elevated levels of NTR mRNA within the SN/VTA. These results suggest that the high incidence of extrapyramidal side effects of typical neuroleptics could result from changes in NTR expression in the SN/VTA.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1141-1143 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Neurochemistry |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - Sep 1993 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Atypical neuroleptics
- Extrapyramidal side effects
- In situ hybridization histochemistry
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience