LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

LVR-KLINIKUM DÜsseLDORF – hOsPITaL OF The heINRIch-heINe UNIVeRsITY DÜsseLDORF
Mean value ± SEM (weight in g)
Influence of selected antipsychotic drugs on
parameters of the metabolic syndrome in rats
Project period: 2007–2009
Financing: Departmental research budget
The metabolic syndrome is a complex system comprising
increased visceral fat tissue, dyslipidemia, arterial
hypertonia und impaired glucose metabolism, including
insulin resistance. Persons with the metabolic syndrome are
at a threefold increased risk of type II diabetes mellitus and
cardiovascular complications. Persons with schizophrenia
have a high prevalence of the individual risk factors of the
metabolic syndrome; the prevalence rate of the metabolic
syndrome in this group is 36%. The mortality of individuals
with schizophrenia is 2.5 times higher than in the nonaffected
population. To date it is unclear if the metabolic
dysfunctions are caused by schizophrenia or by the
treatment with antipsychotic drugs.
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Control male animals
Treated animals; male
Control female animals
Treated animals; female
Figure 12: In an animal model, male rats with prenatal damage to the hippocampus show a statistically significant lack of weight gain, unlike female
animals. A weight reduction during puberty in male patients can therefore be taken as a possible indicator of a schizophrenic disorder (Figure modified
after: v Wilmsdorff M, Sprick U,Bouvier ML, Schulz D, Schmitt A, Gaebel W: Sex-dependent behavioral effects and morphological changes in the
hippocampus after prenatal invasive interventions in rats: implications for animal models of schizophrenia. Clinics. 2010; 65(2): 209–219)
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In order to clarify the influence of typical and atypical
antipsychotic drugs, male and female Sprague Dawley rats
(aged 12 weeks) were given an exactly-defined amount of
medicine in their food every day over 12 weeks. Weight, food
and water intake were calculated per week. At the end of
the investigation, the weight of the fat and liver tissues was
determined. The leptin, adiponectin, insulin and ghrelin
levels in the serum were assessed (using ELISA tests), in
addition to a range of other blood parameters (leukocyte,
erythrocyte and thrombocyte counts), HBA1c, glucose,
cholesterol including HDL and LDL, and triglycerides. In
contrast to haloperidol, clozapine resulted in weight gain
in male animals and in a range of associated metabolic
changes, such as increased glucose and triglyceride levels;
these results are comparable with those of investigations in
patients on clozapine medication.