Evaluation of the effects of donepezil in psychotic disorders using Swiss albino mice

Authors

  • Hemant Tanwani Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Ritesh Churihar Department of Pharmacology, Govt. Medical College, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Sameer Pandit Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20201051

Keywords:

Donepezil, Methylphenidate, Haloperidol, Stereotypy, Albino mice

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia as a psychotic disorder is currently treated by various antipsychotic drugs. A large group of patients still remain resistant to the treatment and present in the form of residual cognitive deficits. Donepezil has been advocated at various conferences and seminars for using it in schizophrenia patients. Donepezil is currently approved drug for Alzheimer's disease to improve cognition. Hence, we have tried to assess its role for psychotic models induced by methylphenidate in mice.

Methods: Methylphenidate 5 mg/kg was given by intraperitoneal (i.p) route to induce psychosis in Swiss albino mice (n=6). Donepezil was given alone in a dose of 1 mg/kg and in combination with low dose haloperidol 0.1 mg/kg and groups were compared with haloperidol 0.2 mg/kg. Activity of donepezil was also assessed on the haloperidol induced catalepsy test. Statistical analysis was done with ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s test.

Results: Methylphenidate successfully induced characteristic stereotypy behaviour in mice similar to amphetamine. Both donepezil 1 mg/kg and haloperidol 0.2 mg/kg showed significant reduction in stereotypy behaviour and there was no statistically significant difference between the two (p<0.05). Effects with donepezil were only slightly inferior to standard while it’s combination (1 mg/kg with haloperidol 0.1 mg/kg) showed comparable results with the standard haloperidol. Donepezil had only marginally enhanced potential to induce catatonia which was statistically insignificant (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Methylphenidate can be used successfully to induce psychosis in animals and donepezil may be a promising and potentially useful drug as add on therapy to routine antipsychotics.

Author Biographies

Hemant Tanwani, Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

Associate Professor

Department of Pharmacology

MGM Medical College, Indore M.P. 

 

Ritesh Churihar, Department of Pharmacology, Govt. Medical College, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, India

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology

Sameer Pandit, Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

3rd year Post Graduate Student

Department of Pharmacology

MGM Medical College, Indore M.P.

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Published

2020-03-24

How to Cite

Tanwani, H., Churihar, R., & Pandit, S. (2020). Evaluation of the effects of donepezil in psychotic disorders using Swiss albino mice. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 9(4), 533–537. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20201051

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Original Research Articles