Semester of Graduation

Spring 2022

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) increase weight gain and food consumption in humans and non-human animals. It has been speculated that SGAs increase the reinforcing effects of food, which increases food consumption and drives weight gain. The current study evaluated the effects of risperidone on sucrose reinforcement in male and female C57BL/6J mice using economic demand assessments. Demand for sucrose was measured by varying the fixed ratio (FR) value required to produce sucrose delivery across experimental sessions using five FR values: 1, 5, 15, 30, and 45. The effects of acute risperidone administration on demand for sucrose were first assessed by orally administering risperidone or vehicle occasionally 30 min prior to experimental sessions. Next, the effects of chronic risperidone administration on demand for sucrose were assessed by orally administering risperidone after experimental sessions. During baseline (no vehicle or drug administration before or after) and vehicle sessions, the number of sucrose reinforcers obtained decreased as FR increased. Following acute, pre-session administration of 1 and 3 mg/kg risperidone, responding was substantially decreased, which reduced the number of sucrose reinforcers obtained across the different FR values. During the periods of chronic, post-session administration of 1 and 3 mg/kg risperidone, the number of sucrose reinforcers obtained at each FR value was not substantially changed relative to that observed following prior vehicle administration. Body weights were not affected by acute, pre-session, 1 or 3 mg/kg risperidone administration. Similarly, there was no significant effect on food consumption in male or female mice following acute pre-session 1 mg/kg administration, but food consumption in male mice decreased following acute pre-session administration of 3 mg/kg risperidone. Finally, chronic post-session administration of 1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg risperidone increased the rate of weight gain in male and female mice, but there was no significant effect on food consumption. These results suggest that neither acute, pre-session, nor chronic, post-session administration of risperidone increases the reinforcing effects of sucrose or food consumption.

Committee Chair

Dr. Paul Soto

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.5563

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