BEHAVIOURAL ASSESSMENT IN RATS OF THE ANTIPSYCHOTIC POTENTIAL OF THE POTENT DOPAMINE D2 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, (-) ETICLOPRIDE

The effects of the selective D-2 DA receptor antagonist, (-)eticlopride, a drug belonging to the benzamide class, were investigated on the D-2 DA agonist SND 919- and CQP 201-403-induced stereotyped behaviour and on CQP 201-403-induced shaking, in rats, and on isolation-induced aggression, in mice. (-)Eticlopride was also tested over a wide dose range (5-1200 mu g kg(-1), s.c.) for sedative and cataleptic activity, in rats, For comparison, some experiments were performed with (-)sulpiride (10 and 40 mg kg(-1), s.c.) The data obtained show that (-)eticlopride differs from (-)sulpiride and potentially modifies animal behaviour, whether spontaneous or induced; moreover, they suggest a potential clinical use for this neuroleptic in the management of psychotic states.