Effects of donepezil, nicotine and haloperidol on the central serotonergic system in mice: Implications for Tourette's syndrome

Role of atypical opiates in OCD. Experimental approach through the study of 5-HT2A/C receptor-mediated behavior

“…Headtwitch behavior in mice has been related at the behavioral level as an experimental model for the activation of the CNS 5-HT2A receptors. DOI-induced head-twitch response has been claimed to serve as an animal model of tics seen in Tourette's disorder (Dursun and Handley 1996;Gaynor and 2001;Hayslett and Tizabi 2005), and the relationship between tics and OCD compulsions have been previously suggested (Leckman et al 1994).…”

Pharmacological and behavioral characterization of the 5-HT2A receptor in C57BL/6N mice

“…Among the few studies of 5-HT 2A and/or 5-HT 2C receptor densities in the mouse brain, reported B max values vary considerably across laboratories, ranging from approximately 20-400 fmol/mg protein in frontal cortex (Canal et al 2010;Goodwin et al 1984;Hayslett and Tizabi 2005;Heal et al 1985;Rioux et al 1999). In the aforementioned studies, when the 5-HT 2C receptor density was determined, it was not measured in the same region as the 5-HT 2A receptor.…”

The Pathophysiological Role of the Serotonergic System in Tourette Syndrome

“…The dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol, an effective drug in the treatment of tics, has also been reported to reduce DOI-induced head shakes in rodents. It has been suggested that anti-tic properties of both haloperidol and nicotine in this preclinical model might be due to an antagonism of cortical 5-HT 2A receptors [64].…”