The thalamus as a site of action of antipsychotic drugs.

Cohen, B M; Wan, W · Am J Psychiatry · 1996

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Because recent data suggest that there are abnormalities of the thalamus in schizophrenia, the authors tested the effects of antipsychotic drugs on thalamic sites. Nine rats were given acute doses of the typical neuroleptic haloperidol (N = 3), the atypical neuroleptic clozapine (N = 3), or a drug-free vehicle (N = 3). Cellular activation was assessed by using immunohistochemistry to determine expression of the immediate response gene c-fos. Both antipsychotic drugs induced increased Fos immunoreactivity, suggesting increased activity in cells of the midline nuclei of the thalamus. The shared clinical effects of antipsychotic drugs may be mediated in part through actions on the thalamus.

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