STUDY OF EFFECT OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC

DRUG USING ACTOPHOTOMETER

- Prabha Shanbhag
AIM : To study the effect of Chlorpromazine in mice using
actophotometer

MOA of Chlorpromazine :
 Actophotometer
• Principle : Most CNS drugs affect locomotor activity.
1. Stimulants – Caffeine , amphetamine etc
2. Depressants – Barbiturates, alcohol etc
Locomotor activity = Index of wakefulness.
• Construction :
- Six built-in photodiodes
- Four digit Digital Display
- Conducting rods for incorporating
electric shock of upto 100 Volts
for activating rats
Working : It operates on photoelectric cells connected
in circuit with a counter.

Procedure :
1. Weigh the animals and number them.
2. Turn on the equipment and make sure all photocells are
working. Place individual mouse in activity cage for
stipulated time and note the basal activity score for all
animals.
3. Inject the drug Chlorpromazine ( dose : 3mg/kg, ip)
4. Calculate % decrease in motor activity.
 Observation Table :
Sr. no. Body weight Dose Locomotor activity in 5 min %change in
activity

Predrug Post drug

1 24 Vehicle 130 128 1.54

2 20 3mg/kg 135 69

3 22 3mg/kg 160 79

4 25 3mg/kg 164 84

5 21 3mg/kg 151 70

6 20 3mg/kg 146 68

% change in activity = Predrug (locomotor activity)- Post drug (locomotor activity)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X 100
Predrug (locomotor avtivity)
 Graphical Representation
180
160
140
120
100
Predrug
80
Post drug
60
40
20
0
Animal 1 Animal 2 Animal 3 Animal 4 Animal 5 Animal 6
 Inference
• Reduction in motor activity indicates CNS depressant property of
the drug. Chlorpromazine inhibits Dopamine D2 receptor and
reduces the locomotion and induces catalepsy () in rats and
mice.
• The average change in locomotor activity due to chlorpromazine
was found to be a decrease of _. Thus in comparison to the
vehicle, a difference of about _% was obtained with drug
chlorpromazine.

Catalepsy is a medical condition characterized by a trance or seizure with a loss of

sensation and consciousness accompanied by rigidity of the body.
Conclusion

• The average percentage decrease in activity after

administration of chlorpromazine compared to control was
found to be __.This shows that Chlorpromazine depresses
centre in brain responsible for motor activity in brain.