Models of Aspects of Schizophrenia: Behavioral Sensitization Induced by Subchronic Phencyclidine Administration

Presented in this unit is a protocol using subchronically administered phencyclidine (PCP) for establishing a behavioral sensitization model of aspects of schizophrenia. This model is validated using haloperidol and risperidone. The end-point of the assay is locomotor hyperactivity, which is induced by PCP challenge following subchronic treatment with this NMDA receptor antagonist. The antipsychotics haloperidol, risperidone, and quetiapine all reduce hyperactivity in a dose-dependent and selective manner. While the effects of other antipsychotics such as clozapine, olanzapine, and ziprasidone are similar to haloperidol, the interpretation of responses to them is often confounded by nonspecific effects during habituation. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 45:5.54.1-5.54.13. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: phencyclidine; sensitization; animal model; hyperactivity; haloperidol; risperidone; antipsychotic drugs