Maria Cristina Pireddu

Publications (2)8.15 Total impact

• Article: Clozapine increases reward evaluation but not overall ingestive behaviour in rats licking for sucrose

  Adriana Galistu, Cristina Modde, Maria Cristina Pireddu, Flavia Franconi, Gino Serra, Paolo S. D’Aquila
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  ABSTRACT: RationaleClozapine and the “atypical” antipsychotics are less prone than neuroleptics to induce extrapyramidal motor effects, worsening of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and dysphoria. This is paralleled by preclinical evidence showing reduced suppression of behaviours aimed at the pursuit of reward, with increased measures of reward efficacy. Serotonin 5-HT2 receptors seem to play a role in determining this profile. ObjectiveWe investigated the effects of clozapine on the microstructure of ingestive behaviour, which might reveal behavioural dimensions, such as reward evaluation and behavioural activation, which might be relevant in explaining its atypical profile. Moreover, we investigated the possibility that coadministration of the typical antipsychotic haloperidol and the 5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist ritanserin might mimic clozapine effects. Materials and methodsThe effects of clozapine (0.5, 1 and 5mg/kg) and of the coadministration of haloperidol (0.05mg/kg) and ritanserin (0.5 and 3mg/kg) have been examined on the microstructure of licking for a 10% sucrose solution in rats. ResultsClozapine failed to affect whole ingestion as revealed by the lack of effect on lick number. However, it increased reward evaluation at the dose of 1mg/kg, as revealed by increased mean bout size. Haloperidol resulted in a decreased bout size. Ritanserin failed to exert any effects either alone or when coadministered with haloperidol. ConclusionThe ability of clozapine to increase reward evaluation might contribute to explain its atypical profile both in the clinical setting and in preclinical studies. These results suggest that 5-HT2A/2C receptors are not involved in the observed effect. KeywordsClozapine–Haloperidol–Ritanserin–Atypical antipsychotics–5-HT2 receptors–Ingestive behaviour–Reward evaluation–Licking microstructure
  Psychopharmacologia 04/2012; 216(3):411-420. · 4.08 Impact Factor
• Article: Clozapine increases reward evaluation but not overall ingestive behaviour in rats licking for sucrose.

  Adriana Galistu, Cristina Modde, Maria Cristina Pireddu, Flavia Franconi, Gino Serra, Paolo S D'Aquila
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Clozapine and the "atypical" antipsychotics are less prone than neuroleptics to induce extrapyramidal motor effects, worsening of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and dysphoria. This is paralleled by preclinical evidence showing reduced suppression of behaviours aimed at the pursuit of reward, with increased measures of reward efficacy. Serotonin 5-HT2 receptors seem to play a role in determining this profile. We investigated the effects of clozapine on the microstructure of ingestive behaviour, which might reveal behavioural dimensions, such as reward evaluation and behavioural activation, which might be relevant in explaining its atypical profile. Moreover, we investigated the possibility that coadministration of the typical antipsychotic haloperidol and the 5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist ritanserin might mimic clozapine effects. The effects of clozapine (0.5, 1 and 5 mg/kg) and of the coadministration of haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg) and ritanserin (0.5 and 3 mg/kg) have been examined on the microstructure of licking for a 10% sucrose solution in rats. Clozapine failed to affect whole ingestion as revealed by the lack of effect on lick number. However, it increased reward evaluation at the dose of 1 mg/kg, as revealed by increased mean bout size. Haloperidol resulted in a decreased bout size. Ritanserin failed to exert any effects either alone or when coadministered with haloperidol. The ability of clozapine to increase reward evaluation might contribute to explain its atypical profile both in the clinical setting and in preclinical studies. These results suggest that 5-HT2A/2C receptors are not involved in the observed effect.
  Psychopharmacologia 03/2011; 216(3):411-20. · 4.08 Impact Factor