INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, cilt.8, sa.5, ss.396-402, 2012 (SCI-Expanded)
The management of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis (PDP) is a challenge requiring to diminish antiparkinson treatment or to use classical antipsychotics which worsen motor symptoms. Second generation antipsychotics are current interest to treat PDP. This study aims to examine the effects of ziprasidone, an atypical antipsychotic agent, on locomotor activity and motor functions in mice with experimental Parkinson's disease 2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) doses of ziprasidone were used. Oxotremorine was injected i.p. for inducing experimental Parkinson's disease. Mice were observed to score Parkinson's disease tremors; then assessed with activity meter, rotarod and grip test. The results were statistically analysed with Mann-Whitney U test There was no significant difference between groups according to Parkinson's disease tremor scores and grip test scores. The time of standing on rotarod device was significantly higher in control group than ziprasidone 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) groups. Stereotypical movements, total activity and distance were higher in ziprasidone 2.5 and 10 mg kg(-1) groups than control while resting values were less than of control group. We found that ziprasidone did not deteriorate motor functions at lower dose in mice with experimentally induced Parkinson's disease and showed a biphasic effect on stereotypical movements, total activity, distance and resting values. We concluded that ziprasidone 2.5 mg kg(-1) introduces a relatively suitable dosing than ziprasidone 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) doses because it didn't worsen motor functions when considering the worsening effects of ziprasidone 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) doses on rotarod test. We suggest that ziprasidone may be a safe agent at low dose in PDP.