ANTIPSYCHOTIC-LIKE PROFILE OF ALSTONINE

Although recently developed drugs have brought significant improvement , the treatment of psychotic disorders still presents serious drawback s. Because inherent complexity and lack of satisfactory understanding of the underlying pathophysiology impose limits for rational drug desi gn, resourceful approaches in the search for antipsychotics are pertin ent. This article reports pharmacological properties of alstonine, a h eteroyohimbine-type alkaloid, which exhibited an antipsychotic-like pr ofile, inhibiting amphetamine-induced lethality, apomorphine-induced s tereotypy, and potentiating barbiturate-induced sleeping time. Atypica l features of alstonine were the prevention of haloperidol-induced cat alepsy and lack of direct interaction with D-1, D-2 and 5-HT2A recepto rs, classically linked to antipsychotic mechanism of action. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.