BEHAVIORAL-ASSESSMENT IN RATS OF THE ANTIPSYCHOTIC POTENTIAL OF THE POTENT DOPAMINE D-2 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, (-)ETICLOPRIDE

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