Haloperidol inhibits (-) bicuculline-induced seizures and bicuculline potentiates haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the interaction between haloperidol and bicuculline in seizure and catalepsy models of mice. Methods: The effect of different doses of bicuculline (0.7-2.1 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied on severity of haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced catalepsy using that Bar test and the effect of varying doses of haloperidol (1-3 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied on the onset of myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsions induced by bicuculline in mice. Results: Haloperidol-induced catalepsy was potentiated by bicuculline and bicuculline-induced seizures were inhibited by haloperidol. Conclusion: Haloperidol inhibited bicuculline-induced seizures probably by reducing the excitatory input to the cerebral cortex and bicuculline potentiated haloperidol-induced catalepsy by reducing dopaminergic transmission in substantia nigra.