The influence of aripiprazole and olanzapine on the anxiolytic-like effect observed in prenatally stressed rats (animal model of schizophrenia) exposed to the ethyl alcohol

BackgroundSchizophrenia is a common disease which affect about 1% of global population. In that point of view animal model of schizophrenia seem to be an important tool for better understanding the key theories related to the disease. The aim of the study was to find whether anxiety-like behavior is found in prenatally stressed rats (animal model of schizophrenia) and whether aripiprazole (ARI, 1.5 mg/kg) and olanzapine (OLA, 0.5 mg/kg) modify those functions. We also were able to determine whether ethyl alcohol consumption has an impact on ARI's and OLA's efficacy as well as anxiety-like behavior of animals.MethodsThe anxiolytic effects of ARI, OLA and ethyl alcohol were determined in a two compartment exploratory test. The anxiolytic effect was studied in the NSCG (non-stressed control group), NSAG (non-stressed alcohol group), and PSG (prenatally stressed group), PSAG (prenatally stressed alcohol group).ResultsSingle and chronic treatment of both ARI and OLA produced a statistically significant increase in the number of entries in the white compartment of the two compartment exploratory test in the NSCG rats. In turn in the PSG rats only ARI showed the anxiolytic effect. Moreover ethyl alcohol intake showed anxiolytic effect in both NSAG and PSAG rats. Results also indicate that after prolonged administration of drugs, tolerance related to the anxiolytic effect was observed.ConclusionARI and OLA can reduce the level of anxiety which proves drugs effectiveness in course anxiety-like behavior. On the other hand only ARI generated anxiolytic effect in exposure to ethyl alcohol conditions.