Repeated inescapable stress produces a neuroleptic-like effect on the conditioned avoidance response

Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
A J FriedhoffJ Schweitzer

Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that the dopaminergic system mediates a restitutive response by decreasing its own activity in the face of events like persistent inescapable stress that threaten to interrupt organized mental activity. It is well established that neuroleptic drugs inhibit the conditioned avoidance response (CAR), but not the escape response, probably via a reduction in subcortical dopaminergic activity. We trained rats to perform the CAR and then subjected them to acute and chronic stress to determine whether this would result in inhibition of the CAR. Rats subjected to twice daily tailshock stress for 8 days showed inhibition of the CAR and a reduction in dopamine (DA) utilization in the nucleus accumbens. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that an endogenous DA-dependent mechanism exists that mimics neuroleptic effects in the face of repeated stress. In humans this response may serve as a protection against psychotic decompensation from chronic endogenous or exogenous insult.

Citations

May 19, 2000·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·A C Spector
Sep 15, 1996·Hearing Research·R S HeffnerH E Heffner
Mar 1, 1997·Hearing Research·G KoayR S Heffner
Feb 3, 1999·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·J M WeissC H West
Aug 11, 2004·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·Ming LiShitij Kapur
Jan 10, 2003·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·Masayoshi Kurachi
Mar 24, 2000·Revista de neurologia·M de EntrambasaguasW Schonewille
Feb 16, 2000·Molecular Psychiatry·L PaniG L Gessa

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