Project Summary

David B. Allison, Ph.D. (Independent Investigator 2000) of University of Alabama at Birmingham, is investigating the biological mechanisms that underlie weight gain caused by antipsychotic medications. It has long been known that antipsychotics can cause dramatic weight gains that may threaten health and reduce medication compliance. Dr. Allison plans to refine a mouse model of atypical antipsychotic effects on food intake and body weight using mice varying in the number of serotonin type 2c (5HT-2c) receptor genes. In addition, the mechanism which prevents weight gain following treatment with ziprasidone, an atypical antipsychotic, will be explored. Finally, olanzapine, another atypical antipsychotic, will be tested to determine whether its weight gain properties are mediated by blocking the 5HT-2c receptor. For this study, transgenic mice (i.e. mice with extra genes for the 5HT-2c receptor) will be used. This work has important clinical implications, including the development of new antipsychotics which result in minimal or no weight gain.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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