Influence of Haloperidol (R 1625) and of Haloperidide (R 3201) on Avoidance and Escape Behaviour of Trained Dogs in A “Jumping Box”

Abstract

The experimental details of a technique for establishing conditioned responses on the basis of escape and avoidance behaviour of dogs in an electrically charged “jumping box” are described. The method is similar to the well-known Warner technique for rats. The influence of two new neuroleptic agents, haloperidol (R 1625) and haloperidide (R 3201), on the behaviour of trained dogs is reported. One and five hours after injection the effects of both compounds are qualitatively and quantitatively indistinguishable. Haloperidol has a longer duration of action. These results are of particular interest in view of the fact that haloperidide is about ten times more active than haloperidol as an antagonist of apomorphine-induced emesis in dogs.