EFFECTS OF 2 NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS ON FOCAL SOMATOPARIETAL RHYTHMS IN FREE AWAKE CATS

In freely moving cats, systemic administration of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and haloperidol (HP), 2 neuroleptics which presumably block catecholamine receptors, leads to a suppression of the waking Rolandic mu-type rhythms. There is a clear difference in that CPZ leads to slow wave sleep while HP only induces sustained drowsiness. The difference in their action is tentatively explained by their differential effect on an enzyme that is not involved in the metabolism of biogenic amines, tryptophan pyrrolase. It is through this pathway that CPZ might increase and HP might decrease brain tryptophan and thereby lead to opposite changes in brain 5-HT [5-hydroxytryptamine] content.