Pharmacopsychiatry 2013; 46(01): 1-9
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321907
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Sex-Dependent Impact of Chronic Clozapine and Haloperidol Treatment on Characteristics of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Rat Model

M. von Wilmsdorff
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
M.-L. Bouvier
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
U. Henning
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
A. Schmitt
2   Department of Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
3   Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo – SP, Brazil
4   Department of Psychiatry, LMU München, München, Germany
,
T. Schneider-Axmann
2   Department of Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
4   Department of Psychiatry, LMU München, München, Germany
,
W. Gaebel
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 07 February 2012
revised 28 June 2012

accepted 11 July 2012

Publication Date:
22 August 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction:

An increased risk for metabolic syndrome has been described for patients with psychotic disorders. Antipsychotic drugs possibly contribute to metabolic changes.

Methods:

Haloperidol or clozapine was orally fed to male and female Sprague Dawley rats for 12 weeks, and body weight gain, food and water intake were measured. The serum levels of fasting glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL and LDL, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin were determined. Gonadal and perirenal fat pads were removed and weighed.

Results:

We found increased body weight in the male clozapine group, but decreased ones in the male haloperidol group. Clozapine-treated male and female animals had higher fasting glucose, adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, whereas haloperidol caused increased levels of insulin and decreased values of HbA1c, cholesterol, HDL and LDL.

Conclusion:

Both antipsychotic drugs cause sex-dependent metabolic changes, which are risk factors for the metabolic syndrome, be it hyperinsulinemia under haloperidol treatment or hyperglycemia, hyperleptinemia and hyperlipidemia under clozapine.