Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons^™

Repeated Administration Of Aripiprazole Produces A Sensitization Effect In The Suppression Of Avoidance Responding And Phencyclidine-Induced Hyperlocomotion And Increases D2 Receptor-Mediated Behavioral Function, Jun Gao, Rongyin Qin, Ming Li

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The present study investigated how repeated administration of aripiprazole (a novel antipsychotic drug) alters its behavioral effects in two behavioral tests of antipsychotic activity and whether this alteration is correlated with an increase in dopamine D₂ receptor function. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were first repeatedly tested with aripiprazole (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, subcutaneously (sc)) or vehicle in a conditioned avoidance response (CAR) test or a phencyclidine (PCP) (3.20 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion test daily for five consecutive days. After 2–3 days of drug-free retraining or resting, all rats were then challenged with aripiprazole (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg, sc). Repeated …