Putative antipsychotics with pronounced agonism at serotonin 5-HT1A and partial agonist activity at dopamine D2 receptors disrupt basal PPI of the startle reflex in rats

Introduction Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex has been extensively studied because it is disrupted in several psychiatric diseases, most notably schizophrenia. In rats, and to a lesser extent, in humans, PPI can be diminished by dopamine (DA) D2/D3 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonists. A novel class of potential antipsychotics (SSR181507, bifeprunox, and SLV313) possess partial agonist/antagonist properties at D2 receptors and various levels of 5-HT1A activation.