The influence of repeated administration of clozapine and haloperidol on the effects of the activation of 5-HT1A, 5-HT2 and 5-HT4 receptors in rat frontal cortex

The effects of a repeated treatment with antipsychotic drugs, clozapine and haloperidol, on the modulation of network activity ex vivo by 5-HT receptors were examined in rat frontal cortical slices using extracellular recording. Rats were treated for 21 days with clozapine (30 mg/kg p.o.), or haloperidol (1 mg/kg p.o.). Spontaneous bursting activity was induced in slices prepared 3 days after the last drug administration by perfusion with a medium devoid of Mg2+ ions and with added picrotoxin (30 mM). The application of 2-3 µM 8-OH-DPAT, acting through 5-HT1A receptors, resulted in a reversible decrease of bursting frequency. In the presence of 1 µM DOI, the 5-HT2 agonist, or 5 µM zacopride, the 5-HT4 agonist, bursting frequency increased. Chronic clozapine treatment resulted in an attenuation of the effect of the activation of 5-HT2 receptors, while the effects related to 5-HT1A and 5-HT4 receptor activation were unchanged. Treatment with haloperidol did not influence the reactivity to the activation of any of the three 5-HT receptor subtypes. These data are consistent with earlier findings demonstrating a selective downregulation of 5-HT2A receptors by clozapine and indicate that chronic clozapine selectively attenuates the 5-HT-mediated excitation in neuronal circuitry of the frontal cortex while leaving the 5-HT-mediated inhibition intact.