Catalepsy

Catalepsy is defined as a state of marked loss of voluntary movement in which the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed (waxy flexibility) and a tendency to maintain an immobile posture. Catalepsy is characterized by muscular rigidity leading to prolonged immobility and an inability to correct an externally imposed awkward posture ¹. Under physiological conditions, catalepsy can be obtained in some vertebrates as a kind of passive defensive behavior against a predator ². In humans, excessive catalepsy‐like dyskinesia is a pathological symptom occurring in schizophrenia, mood disorders (e.g. depression) and Parkinsons’ disease ³. It has been shown that the brain serotoninergic (5‐HT) system is crucially involved in the mechanisms of catalepsy in mice ¹. For example, pharmacological activation of the 5‐HT1A receptor with 8‐OH‐DPAT attenuates catalepsy induced by neuroleptics ⁴ as well as hereditary catalepsy in rats and mice ⁵. In addition, decreased expression of the gene for the 5‐HT2A receptor was found in the frontal cortex of all mice predisposed to catalepsy when compared with catalepsy‐resistant mice of the AKR strain ⁶. Moreover, irreversible inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), the key enzyme for 5‐HT synthesis, by p‐chlorophenylalanine significantly reduces catalepsy in rodents ⁷. More recently, the involvement of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the mechanisms of hereditary catalepsy in mice has also been demonstrated ⁸.

Catalepsy causes

In humans, excessive catalepsy‐like dyskinesia is a pathological symptom occurring in schizophrenia, mood disorders (e.g. depression) and Parkinsons’ disease ³. Catalepsy can be caused by schizophrenia treatment with anti-psychotics ⁹, such as haloperidol ¹⁰ and by the anesthetic ketamine ¹¹. It has been shown that the brain serotoninergic (5‐HT) system is crucially involved in the mechanisms of catalepsy in mice ¹. For example, pharmacological activation of the 5‐HT1A receptor with 8‐OH‐DPAT attenuates catalepsy induced by neuroleptics ⁴ as well as hereditary catalepsy in rats and mice ⁵. In addition, decreased expression of the gene for the 5‐HT2A receptor was found in the frontal cortex of all mice predisposed to catalepsy when compared with catalepsy‐resistant mice of the AKR strain ⁶. Moreover, irreversible inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), the key enzyme for 5‐HT synthesis, by p‐chlorophenylalanine significantly reduces catalepsy in rodents ⁷. More recently, the involvement of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the mechanisms of hereditary catalepsy in mice has also been demonstrated ⁸.

Catalepsy symptoms

Symptoms include: rigid body, rigid limbs, limbs staying in same position when moved (waxy flexibility), no response, loss of muscle control, and slowing down of bodily functions, such as breathing ¹².

Catalepsy treatment

Catalepsy treatment involves treating the underlying cause. Auricularia polytricha is effective in both prevention and treatment of numerous types of neurological disorders. In this study ¹³, anticataleptic activity of aqueous extract of A polytricha (AEAP) at different doses (400 and 600 mg/kg, respectively, orally) was studied using haloperidol-induced (1 mg/ kg) catalepsy in rats.

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