Effects of antipsychotics and vitamin C on the formation of reactive oxygen species

There is evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Indirect biochemical alterations of ROS formation have been shown for patients treated with antipsychotics as well as for untreated patients. Only one study measured directly the ROS formation after treatment with antipsychotics by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The aim of the present examination was to demonstrate the effects of haloperidol, clozapine and olanzapine in concentrations of 18, 90 and 180 μg/mL on the formation of ROS in the whole blood of rats by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy after incubation for 30 min. To test the protective capacity of vitamin C we incubated the highest concentration of each drug with vitamin C (1 mM). Under all treatment conditions, olanzapine led to a significantly higher formation of ROS compared with control conditions, whereas in the cases of haloperidol and clozapine the two higher concentrations induced a significantly enhanced formation of ROS. Vitamin C reduced the ROS production of all drugs tested and for haloperidol and clozapine the level of significance was reached. Our study demonstrated that antipsychotics induce the formation of ROS in the whole blood of rats, which can be reduced by the application of vitamin C.