A role for 5‐hydroxytryptamine in the GABA‐mimetic potentiation of α‐flupenthixol‐induced catalepsy in the rat

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Abstract
α‐Flupenthixol (α‐FPT)‐induced catalepsy in the rat was potentiated by diaminobutyric acid (DABA), an inhibitor of the neuronal high affinity uptake of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). The depletion of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) with p‐chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) abolished the DAB A potentiation of α‐FPT‐induced catalepsy; this response was restored with 5‐hydroxytryptophan. Potentiation of α‐FPT‐induced catalepsy by clonazepam was significantly reduced by methysergide. Conversely, the potentiation of catalepsy by clomipramine was significantly reduced by Picrotoxin. These results are interpreted as evidence supporting a role for 5‐HT in modifying the GABA‐ergic inhibition of dopaminergic pathways, possibly by regulating the release of GABA.