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Accumulating evidence implicates oxidative stress as a potential pathophysiological mechanism of schizophrenia. Accordingly, we synthesized new chemicals using apocynin and tandospirone as lead compounds (A-2, A-3 and A-4). These novel compounds decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations in vitro and reversed decreases in glutathione levels in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats transiently exposed to MK-801, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, in the neonatal period. To determine whether A-2, A-3 and A-4 show behavioral effects associated with antipsychotic properties, the effects of these compounds on methamphetamine (MAP)-induced locomotor and vertical activity were examined in the model rats. A-2 and A-3, administered for 14 days around the puberty period, ameliorated MAP-induced hyperlocomotion in MK-801-treated rats in the post-puberty period, while A-4 suppressed MAP-induced vertical activity. These findings indicate that apocynin-tandospirone derivatives present anti-dopaminergic effects and may alleviate psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Schizophrenia is considered as a 'neurodegenerative' and 'neurodevelopmental' disorder, the pathophysiology of which may include hypofunction of the N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) or subsequent pathways. Accordingly, administration of NMDA-R antagonists to rodents during the perinatal period may emulate some core pathophysiological aspects of schizophrenia. The effect of 4-day (postnatal day; PD 7-10) administration of MK-801, a selective NMDA-R antagonist, on gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, and amygdala was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods. Specifically, we sought to determine whether genes related to Glu transmissions, for example those encoding for NMDA-Rs, metabotropic Glu receptors (mGluRs), or Glu transporters, were altered by neonatal treatment with MK-801. Model rats showed downregulation of the mGluR3 subtype in the mPFC around puberty, especially at PD 35 in response to MK-801 or during ontogenesis without pharmacological manipulations. Genes encoding for other mGluRs subtypes, that is NMDA-Rs and Glu transporters, were not affected by the neonatal insult. These results suggest that NMDA-R antagonism in the early course of development modulates the expression of mGluR3 in mPFC around puberty. Thus, mGluR3 may serve as a potential target to prevent the onset and progression of schizophrenia. Synapse 68:202-208, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: T-817MA [1-{3-[2-(1-benzothiophen-5-yl)ethoxy]propyl}azetidin-3-ol maleate] is a newly synthesized neuroprotective agent for the treatment of psychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive disturbances, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive impairment has also been suggested to be a cardinal feature of schizophrenia. We sought to determine whether T-817MA would ameliorate sensorimotor gating deficits and loss of parvalbumin (PV)-positive γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in the brain of rats transiently exposed to MK-801, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blocker, in the neonatal stage, as an animal model of schizophrenia. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) was examined in rats treated neonatally with MK-801 (postnatal day; PD 7–10, 0.2 mg/kg/day, s.c.) or vehicle at PD 35 and PD 63. The number of PV-positive GABAergic neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the hippocampus was measured after the behavioral assessments. T-817MA (10 or 20 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered for 14 days (on PD 49–62). Administration of T-817MA at 20 mg/kg, but not 10 mg/kg, ameliorated PPI deficits and completely reversed the decrease in the number of PV-positive GABAergic neurons in rats given MK-801. These results indicate that T-817MA may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Administration of non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists (e.g. phencyclidine, MK-801) has been shown to elicit behavioral abnormalities related to symptoms of schizophrenia, such as spontaneous locomotor activity and impaired sensorimotor gating, as represented by deficits of prepulse inhibition (PPI). We sought to determine whether transient blockade of NMDA receptors at the neonatal stage would produce dopamine supersensitivity around puberty, as manifested by these behavioral measures. For this purpose, we examined methamphetamine (MAP; 1.0mg/kg, i.p.)-induced locomotor activity and PPI in pre- (postnatal day; PD 36–38) or post- (PD 64–66) puberty in rats administered MK-801 (0.2mg/kg/day, s.c.) between PD 7 and PD 10. Neonatal MK-801 treatment augmented MAP-induced hyperlocomotion especially in the early adulthood, whereas spontaneous locomotor activity and rearing were not changed. MK-801 administration also disrupted PPI without affecting startle amplitudes around puberty. These findings suggest that transient exposure to MK-801 in the neonatal stage causes exaggerated dopamine transmission and cognitive deficits, particularly in the post-puberty stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to examine the construct validity of rats with excitotoxic damage of the left entorhinal cortex (EC) as an animal model of schizophrenia, we measured dopamine (DA)-related behaviors and methamphetamine (MAP)-induced DA release in the accumbens nucleus (NAC) in these animals. Quinolinic acid (lesion group) or phosphate buffer (sham group) was infused into the left EC of adolescent (postnatal 7 weeks) male Wistar rats. On the 14th and 28th postoperative day, spontaneous and MAP (1 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced locomotor activities, as well as MAP-induced stereotypy, were measured. The lesioned rats exhibited significantly greater spontaneous or MAP-induced locomotor activity on both of the postoperative days than did sham-operated animals, while EC lesions did not affect MAP-induced stereotypy on either occasion. MAP (1 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced DA release in NAC was measured by in vivo microdialysis on the 28th postoperative day. Lesioned rats did not show a significant change in MAP (1 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced DA release in NAC compared to sham-operated animals. These results suggest that excitotoxic damage of the left EC produces behavioral changes consistent with altered mesolimbic dopaminergic transmissions, possibly mediated by postsynaptic supersensitivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]