Quetiapine improves sensorimotor gating deficit in a sleep deprivation-induced rat model.

Abstract

Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs pre-stimulus inhibition, but the effect of quetiapine (QET) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the behavioral and cognitive effects of QET in both naïve and sleep-deprived rats. Seven groups (n = 49) of male Wistar Albino rats were used in this study. SD was performed using the modified multiple platform technique in a water tank for 72h. Our study consists of two experiments investigating the effect of QET on pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. The first experiment tested the effect of short- and long-term administration of QET on PPI response in non-sleeping (NSD) rats. The second experiment used 72h REM sleep deprivation as a model for SD-induced impairment of the PPI response. Here, we tested the effect of QET on the % PPI of SD rats by short- and long-term intraperitoneal injection at the last 90min of sleep SD and immediately subsequently tested for PPI. 72h SD impaired PPI, reduced startle amplitude, and attenuated the PPI% at + 4dB, + 8dB, and + 16dB prepulse intensities. 10mg/kg short and long-term QET administration completely improved sensorimotor gating deficit, increased startle amplitude, and restored the impaired PPI% at + 4dB, + 8dB, and + 16dB after 72h SD in rats. Our results showed short- and long-term administration of QET improved sensorimotor gating deficit in 72h SD. Further research is required for the etiology of insomnia and the dose-related behavioral effects of QET.