Behavioral, autonomic and motor effects of neuroleptic drugs in cats: Motor impairment and aggression

The effects of eight neuroleptic drugs injected into the cerebral ventricles on behavior, autonomic and motor activity of unanesthetized cats have been studied. Chlorpromazine, trifluorpromazine, droperidol, haloperidol, domperidone and spiperone induced emotional behavior (restlessness, miaowing, rage, attack, defense, fighting with paws, biting), autonomic (mydriasis, tachypnoea, dyspnoea, panting, salivation, defecation, urination, licking, vomiting) and motor (ataxia, muscular weakness, adynamia) phenomena. The main and the most consistent effect was the motor impairment, while the aggression was inconsistent and of moderate intensity. Of the neuroleptic drugs injected, only spiperone, domperidone and trifluorpromazine produced a dose-dependent motor impairment. The autonomic effects were also inconsistent and of low intensity. Metoclopramide induced inconsistent autonomic and motor effects, while sulpiride was devoid of any visible behavioral, autonomic and motor activity. It appears, therefore, that the motor impairment as well as the aggression caused by the neuroleptic drugs is perhaps related to central D-1 rather than to central D-2 dopamine receptors, but an effect on central norepinephrine and on central serotonin receptors cannot be excluded.