Open Field Behaviour and Reaction to Novelty in Göttingen Minipigs: Effects of Amphetamine and Haloperidol

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to quantify behavioural changes of healthy Göttingen minipigs in response  to experimentally altered dopamine neurotransmission. Since dopamine function is important in the pathogenesis  of several human neuropsychiatric diseases, it is important for future evaluation of minipig models of diseases involving dopamine that the changes in behaviour in response to changed neurotransmitter  function can be quantified. We recorded the behaviour of eight Göttingen minipigs in a ten-minute open  field and a five-minute novelty test, and investigated the effects of d-amphetamine (0.7 mg/kg) and  haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg) in this setting. 

D-amphetamine as well as haloperidol produced appreciable changes in motor behaviour and decreased  explorative behaviour in line with the elsewhere reported effect of these drugs. It was possible to make a  clear distinction between the behavioural profiles of these compounds. 

In conclusion, we have demonstrated the usefulness of a ten-minute open field and a five-minute novelty  test for quantifying behavioural changes of Göttingen minipigs in response to experimentally altered  dopamine neurotransmission. This provides the basis for using these behavioural tests in future evaluations  of minipig models of diseases characterised by dopaminergic disturbances.