Enhanced effect of haloperidol and apomorphine after hypophysectomy: pharmacokinetic considerations

The behavioural effects of both apomorphine (stereotypies) and haloperidol (catalepsy and reversal of stereotypies) were significantly enhanced in hypophysectomized rats compared with sham-operated rats. Both the efficacy and duration of action were increased. Hypophysectomized animals had significantly greater brain haloperidol concentrations than did sham-operated animals. The data suggest that changes in brain drug concentrations following hypophysectomy at least partially explain the behavioural alterations seen in this test situation.