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1.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(14)2023 Jul 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37511157

RESUMO

Treating schizophrenia with the available pharmacotherapy is difficult. One possible strategy is focused on the modulation of the function of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is comprised of cannabinoid (CB) receptors, endocannabinoids and enzymes responsible for the metabolism of endocannabinoids (fatty acid hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL)). Here, the aim of the experiments was to evaluate the impact of inhibitors of endocannabinoids' enzymatic degradation in the brain: KML-29 (MAGL inhibitor), JZL-195 (MAGL/FAAH inhibitor) and PF-3845 (FAAH inhibitor), on the memory disturbances typical for schizophrenia in an acute N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction animal model of schizophrenia (i.e., injection of MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist). The memory-like responses were assessed in the passive avoidance (PA) test. A single administration of KML-29 or PF-3845 had a positive effect on the memory processes, but an acute administration of JZL-195 impaired cognition in mice in the PA test. Additionally, the combined administration of a PA-ineffective dose of KML-29 (5 mg/kg) or PF-3845 (3 mg/kg) attenuated the MK-801-induced cognitive impairment (0.6 mg/kg). Our results suggest that the indirect regulation of endocannabinoids' concentration in the brain through the use of selected inhibitors may positively affect memory disorders, and thus increase the effectiveness of modern pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia.


Assuntos
Endocanabinoides , Esquizofrenia , Camundongos , Animais , Endocanabinoides/metabolismo , N-Metilaspartato , Esquizofrenia/tratamento farmacológico , Maleato de Dizocilpina/farmacologia , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Transtornos da Memória/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos da Memória/etiologia , Monoacilglicerol Lipases/metabolismo , Amidoidrolases/metabolismo
2.
Front Neuroendocrinol ; 47: 19-33, 2017 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28673758

RESUMO

Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric illness with marked sex differences. Women have later onset and lesser symptoms, which has led to the hypothesis that estrogens are protective in schizophrenia. Cognitive dysfunction is a hallmark of the disease and the symptom most correlated with functional outcome. Here we describe a number of mechanisms by which estrogens may be therapeutic in schizophrenia, with a focus on cognitive symptoms. We review the relationship between estrogens and brain derived neurotrophic factor, neuroinflammation, NMDA receptors, GABA receptors, and luteinizing hormone. Exploring these pathways may enable novel treatments for schizophrenia and a greater understanding of this devastating disease.


Assuntos
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Estrogênios/metabolismo , Neuroproteção/fisiologia , Esquizofrenia/metabolismo , Caracteres Sexuais , Cognição/fisiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino
3.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 112(35): 11096-101, 2015 Sep 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26286993

RESUMO

Functional connectivity between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential for associative recognition memory and working memory. Disruption of hippocampal-PFC synchrony occurs in schizophrenia, which is characterized by hypofunction of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated transmission. We demonstrate that activity of dopamine D2-like receptors (D2Rs) leads selectively to long-term depression (LTD) of hippocampal-PFC NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission. We show that dopamine-dependent LTD of NMDAR-mediated transmission profoundly disrupts normal synaptic transmission between hippocampus and PFC. These results show how dopaminergic activation induces long-term hypofunction of NMDARs, which can contribute to disordered functional connectivity, a characteristic that is a hallmark of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.


Assuntos
Hipocampo/fisiologia , Depressão Sináptica de Longo Prazo/fisiologia , Córtex Pré-Frontal/fisiologia , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo , Humanos , Receptores de Dopamina D2/fisiologia , Transmissão Sináptica
4.
Cereb Cortex ; 25(5): 1348-61, 2015 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24304584

RESUMO

Noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists such as phencyclidine and MK-801 are known to impair cognitive function in rodents and humans, and serve as a useful tool to study the cellular basis for pathogenesis of schizophrenia cognitive symptoms. In the present study, we tested in rats the effect of MK-801 on ventral hippocampus (HPC)-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) synaptic transmission and the performance in 2 cognitive tasks. We found that single injection of MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) induced gradual and long-lasting increases of the HPC-mPFC response, which shares the common expression mechanisms with long-term potentiation (LTP). But unlike LTP, its induction required no enhanced or synchronized synaptic inputs, suggesting aberrant characteristics. In parallel, rats injected with MK-801 showed impairments of mPFC-dependent cognitive flexibility and HPC-mPFC pathway-dependent spatial working memory. The effects of MK-801 on HPC-mPFC responses and spatial working memory decayed in parallel within 24 h. Moreover, the therapeutically important subtype 2/3 metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist LY379268, which blocked MK-801-induced potentiation, ameliorated the MK-801-induced impairment of spatial working memory. Our results show a novel form of use-independent long-lasting potentiation in HPC-mPFC pathway induced by MK-801, which is associated with impairment of HPC-mPFC projection-dependent cognitive function.


Assuntos
Cognição/efeitos dos fármacos , Maleato de Dizocilpina/farmacologia , Hipocampo/fisiologia , Córtex Pré-Frontal/fisiologia , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacos , Aminoácidos/farmacologia , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Compostos Bicíclicos Heterocíclicos com Pontes/farmacologia , Cognição/fisiologia , Antagonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/farmacologia , Função Executiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Função Executiva/fisiologia , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Potenciação de Longa Duração/efeitos dos fármacos , Potenciação de Longa Duração/fisiologia , Masculino , Memória de Curto Prazo/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/antagonistas & inibidores , Memória Espacial/efeitos dos fármacos , Transmissão Sináptica/fisiologia
5.
Int J Neuropsychopharmacol ; 18(5)2014 Oct 31.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25618402

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Preclinical and clinical data suggest that cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa, induces antipsychotic-like effects. However, the antipsychotic properties of repeated CBD treatment have been poorly investigated. Behavioral changes induced by repeated treatment with glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists have been proposed as an animal model of schizophrenia-like signs. In the present study, we evaluated if repeated treatment with CBD would attenuate the behavioral and molecular modifications induced by chronic administration of one of these antagonists, MK-801. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice received daily i.p. injections of MK-801 (0.1, 0.5, or 1mg/kg) for 14, 21, or 28 days. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, animals were submitted to the prepulse inhibition (PPI) test. After that, we investigated if repeated treatment with CBD (15, 30, and 60mg/kg) would attenuate the PPI impairment induced by chronic treatment with MK-801 (1mg/kg; 28 days). CBD treatment began on the 6th day after the start of MK-801 administration and continued until the end of the treatment. Immediately after the PPI, the mice brains were removed and processed to evaluate the molecular changes. We measured changes in FosB/ΔFosB and parvalbumin (PV) expression, a marker of neuronal activity and a calcium-binding protein expressed in a subclass of GABAergic interneurons, respectively. Changes in mRNA expression of the NMDAR GluN1 subunit gene (GRN1) were also evaluated. CBD effects were compared to those induced by the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. RESULTS: MK-801 administration at the dose of 1mg/kg for 28 days impaired PPI responses. Chronic treatment with CBD (30 and 60mg/kg) attenuated PPI impairment. MK-801 treatment increased FosB/ΔFosB expression and decreased PV expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. A decreased mRNA level of GRN1 in the hippocampus was also observed. All the molecular changes were attenuated by CBD. CBD by itself did not induce any effect. Moreover, CBD effects were similar to those induced by repeated clozapine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that repeated treatment with CBD, similar to clozapine, reverses the psychotomimetic-like effects and attenuates molecular changes observed after chronic administration of an NMDAR antagonist. These data support the view that CBD may have antipsychotic properties.


Assuntos
Canabidiol/farmacologia , Parvalbuminas/metabolismo , Inibição Pré-Pulso/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-fos/metabolismo , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/antagonistas & inibidores , Filtro Sensorial/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Canabidiol/administração & dosagem , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Maleato de Dizocilpina/toxicidade , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Neurônios GABAérgicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios GABAérgicos/metabolismo , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Córtex Pré-Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/genética , Esquizofrenia/induzido quimicamente , Esquizofrenia/metabolismo , Resultado do Tratamento
6.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ; 16(2)2023 Feb 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37259423

RESUMO

The NMDA receptor hypofunction has been implicated in schizophrenia, memory impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Modulating the abundance of D-serine, a co-agonist of the NMDA receptor, is a strategy to treat symptoms of the NMDA receptor hypofunction. In contrast to D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitors, which aim at decreasing the loss of D-serine, this study tried to identify serine racemase (SRR) agonists, which boost the conversion of L-serine to D-serine. We used holo and apo structures of human SRR for the molecular docking against the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and ZINC compound databases and validated their efficacy by in vitro SRR activity assay. We identified NSC294149 (2-amino-3-(3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)sulfanylpropanoic acid) as a potential SRR agonist and confirmed its amelioration of the hazard ratio of survival of the AD model of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). These results suggest that the SRR agonist could be a drug design target against the NMDA receptor hypofunction symptoms.

7.
Psychiatry Res ; 321: 115064, 2023 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36716550

RESUMO

Early detection and intervention in schizophrenia, improving prognosis, requires mechanism-based biomarkers that capture circuitry dysfunction, allowing optimized patient stratification, disease monitoring and treatment. Dr. Do's translational research, bridging basic neuroscience and clinical psychiatry, tackles an urgent need to develop effective treatments that target mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits, a critical dimension of schizophrenia, currently not well treated. By adopting a reverse translation of validated circuitry relevant human endpoints, her research brought new insights in mechanism-based biomarker guided treatment of patients in early stages of psychosis. She showed that oxidative stress/redox dysregulation, in reciprocal interaction with dopamine imbalance, NMDAR hypofunction, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction, may represent a "hub" on which both genetic and environmental risk factors converge during neurodevelopment. This leads to impairments of structural and functional connectivity in microcircuits, involving impaired parvalbumin fast-spiking GABA neurons, and macrocircuits, impacting myelination of fiber tracts, at the basis of neural synchronization abnormalities, as well as sensory and cognitive deficits. These unique insights led to successful proof-of-concept clinical trials, targeting oxidative stress through antioxidant-based strategies in patients at various disease stages, paving the way for precision medicine in psychiatry.


Assuntos
Transtornos Cognitivos , Psiquiatria , Transtornos Psicóticos , Esquizofrenia , Humanos , Biomarcadores , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato
8.
Cell Rep ; 37(5): 109950, 2021 11 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34731619

RESUMO

Evidence for prefrontal cortical (PFC) GABAergic dysfunction is one of the most consistent findings in schizophrenia and may contribute to cognitive deficits. Recent studies suggest that the mGlu1 subtype of metabotropic glutamate receptor regulates cortical inhibition; however, understanding the mechanisms through which mGlu1 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) regulate PFC microcircuit function and cognition is essential for advancing these potential therapeutics toward the clinic. We report a series of electrophysiology, optogenetic, pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging, and animal behavior studies demonstrating that activation of mGlu1 receptors increases inhibitory transmission in the prelimbic PFC by selective excitation of somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs). An mGlu1 PAM reverses cortical hyperactivity and concomitant cognitive deficits induced by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. Using in vivo optogenetics, we show that prelimbic SST-INs are necessary for mGlu1 PAM efficacy. Collectively, these findings suggest that mGlu1 PAMs could reverse cortical GABAergic deficits and exhibit efficacy in treating cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.


Assuntos
Antipsicóticos/farmacologia , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Cognição/efeitos dos fármacos , Disfunção Cognitiva/tratamento farmacológico , Agonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/farmacologia , Glicina/análogos & derivados , Interneurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/agonistas , Resorcinóis/farmacologia , Esquizofrenia/tratamento farmacológico , Psicologia do Esquizofrênico , Somatostatina/metabolismo , Animais , Disfunção Cognitiva/metabolismo , Disfunção Cognitiva/fisiopatologia , Disfunção Cognitiva/psicologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Neurônios GABAérgicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios GABAérgicos/metabolismo , Glicina/farmacologia , Interneurônios/metabolismo , Masculino , Memória de Curto Prazo/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Inibição Neural/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , Córtex Pré-Frontal/fisiopatologia , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/fisiopatologia , Somatostatina/genética
9.
Schizophr Res ; 217: 60-70, 2020 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30979669

RESUMO

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with cognitive deficits manifesting during early stages of the disease. Evidence suggests that genetic factors in combination with environmental insults lead to complex changes to glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic systems. In particular, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a major glutamate receptor subtype, is implicated in both the disease progression and symptoms of SZ. NMDARs are critical for synaptic plasticity and cortical maturation, as well as learning and memory processes. In fact, any deviation from normal NMDAR expression and function can have devastating consequences. Surprisingly, there is little evidence from human patients that direct mutations of NMDAR genes contribute to SZ. One intriguing hypothesis is that epigenetic changes, which could result from early insults, alter protein expression and contribute to the NMDAR hypofunction found in SZ. Epigenetics is referred to as modifications that alter gene transcription without changing the DNA sequence itself. In this review, we first discuss how epigenetic changes to NMDAR genes could contribute to NMDAR hypofunction. We then explore how NMDAR hypofunction may contribute to epigenetic changes in other proteins or genes that lead to synaptic dysfunction and symptoms in SZ. We argue that NMDAR hypofunction occurs in early stage of the disease, and it may consequentially initiate GABA and dopamine deficits. Therefore, targeting NMDAR dysfunction during the early stages would be a promising avenue for prevention and therapeutic intervention of cognitive and social deficits that remain untreatable. Finally, we discuss potential questions regarding the epigenetic of SZ and future directions for research.


Assuntos
Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato , Esquizofrenia , Dopamina , Epigênese Genética , Humanos , Plasticidade Neuronal , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/genética , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/genética
10.
Neuropharmacology ; 171: 108103, 2020 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32330470

RESUMO

NMDA receptors (NMDAr) are widely expressed throughout the brain on many cell types, and loss of function of these receptors (ie: NMDAr hypofunction) is a candidate mechanism explaining working memory impairment in schizophrenia. However, the cellular source driving the working memory deficits caused by NMDAr hypofunction has not been explored. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of NMDAr on pyramidal cells and parvalbumin (PV+) interneurons to impairments in working memory induced by NMDAr hypofunction. We excised GluN1 - the gene encoding the obligatory subunit of the NMDAr - from PV + interneurons or CaMKIIα+ pyramidal cells using Cre-lox technology. Adult male PV GluN1 KO (n = 10) and CaMKIIα GluN1 KO mice (n = 9) and WT controls (n = 10 and n = 13) were trained to perform the Trial-Unique Nonmatching-to-Location (TUNL) task of working memory. Once trained, mice received the NMDAr antagonist MK-801 (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg ip), and working memory assessed. Neither task acquisition nor working memory differed between the two transgenic lines and WT littermates. MK-801 dose-dependently decreased working memory accuracy in all strains (p < 0.001). PV GluN1 KO mice were sensitised to the impairing effects of MK-801 (p = 0.04), whereas CaMKIIα GluN1 KO mice showed equivalent working memory deficits as WT. Developmental NMDAr hypofunction at either PV+ interneurons or forebrain pyramidal cells is not sufficient to impair working memory, and neither of these cell types exclusively mediates working memory impairment caused by NMDAr antagonism. Reduced NMDAr signalling at PV+ interneurons could predispose circuits to NMDAr hypofunction magnifying deficits in working memory.


Assuntos
Maleato de Dizocilpina/farmacologia , Antagonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/farmacologia , Interneurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Transtornos da Memória/induzido quimicamente , Memória de Curto Prazo/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Piramidais/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Animais Geneticamente Modificados , Proteína Quinase Tipo 2 Dependente de Cálcio-Calmodulina/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína Quinase Tipo 2 Dependente de Cálcio-Calmodulina/genética , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Interneurônios/metabolismo , Masculino , Transtornos da Memória/psicologia , Camundongos , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/metabolismo , Parvalbuminas/genética , Parvalbuminas/metabolismo , Prosencéfalo/citologia , Prosencéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo
11.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) ; 237(5): 1397-1405, 2020 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31993694

RESUMO

RATIONALE: Impaired cerebral glucose metabolism is a core pathological feature of schizophrenia. We recently demonstrated that a ketogenic diet, causing a shift from glycolysis to ketosis, normalized schizophrenia-like behaviours in an acute N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist model of the illness. Ketogenic diet produces the ketone body, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which may serve as an alternative fuel source in its own right without a strict dietary regime. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that chronic administration of BHB replicates the therapeutic effects of ketogenic diet in an acute NMDA receptor hypofunction model of schizophrenia in mice. METHODS: C57Bl/6 mice were either treated with acute doses of 2 mmol/kg, 10 mmol/kg, or 20 mmol/kg BHB or received daily intraperitoneal injections of 2 mmol/kg BHB or saline for 3 weeks. Behavioural testing assessed the effect of acute challenge with 0.2 mg/kg MK-801 or saline on open field behaviour, social interaction, and prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI). RESULTS: Acute BHB administration dose-dependently increased BHB plasma levels, whereas the 2 mmol/kg dose increased plasma glucose levels. The highest acute dose of BHB supressed spontaneous locomotor activity, MK-801-induced locomotor hyperactivity and MK-801-induced disruption of PPI. Chronic BHB treatment normalized MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion, reduction of sociability, and disruption of PPI. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, BHB may present a novel treatment option for patients with schizophrenia by providing an alternative fuel source to normalize impaired glucose metabolism in the brain.


Assuntos
Ácido 3-Hidroxibutírico/uso terapêutico , Maleato de Dizocilpina/toxicidade , Esquizofrenia/induzido quimicamente , Esquizofrenia/tratamento farmacológico , Ácido 3-Hidroxibutírico/farmacologia , Animais , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Antagonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/toxicidade , Injeções Intraperitoneais , Locomoção/efeitos dos fármacos , Locomoção/fisiologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Inibição Pré-Pulso/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibição Pré-Pulso/fisiologia , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/fisiologia , Reflexo de Sobressalto/efeitos dos fármacos , Reflexo de Sobressalto/fisiologia , Resultado do Tratamento
12.
Steroids ; 147: 4-9, 2019 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30296546

RESUMO

Neurosteroids are endogenous steroidal compounds that can modulate neuronal receptors. N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated, calcium-permeable ion channels that are of particular interest, as they participate in synaptic transmission and are implicated in various processes, such as learning, memory, or long-term neuronal potentiation. Positive allosteric modulators that increase the activity of NMDARs may provide a therapeutic aid for patients suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders where NMDAR hypofunction is thought to be involved, such as intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or schizophrenia. We recently described a new class of pregn-5-ene and androst-5-ene 3ß-dicarboxylic acid hemiesters (2-24) as potent positive modulators of NMDARs. Considering the recommended guidelines for the early stage development of new, potent compounds, we conducted an in vitro safety assessment and plasma stability screening to evaluate their druglikeness. First, compounds were screened for their hepatotoxicity and mitochondrial toxicity in a HepG2 cell line. Second, toxicity in primary rat postnatal neurons was estimated. Next, the ability of compounds 2-24 to cross a Caco-2 monolayer was also studied. Finally, rat and human plasma stability screening revealed an unforeseen high stability of the C-3 hemiester moiety. In summary, by using potency/efficacy towards NMDARs data along with toxicity profile, Caco-2 permeability and plasma stability, compounds 14 and 15 were selected for further in vivo animal studies.


Assuntos
Androstenóis/farmacologia , Colesterol/farmacologia , Ácidos Dicarboxílicos/farmacologia , Ésteres/farmacologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Pregnenolona/análogos & derivados , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/antagonistas & inibidores , Androstenóis/sangue , Androstenóis/química , Animais , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/tratamento farmacológico , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/metabolismo , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Colesterol/sangue , Colesterol/química , Ácidos Dicarboxílicos/sangue , Ácidos Dicarboxílicos/química , Estabilidade de Medicamentos , Ésteres/sangue , Ésteres/química , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Deficiência Intelectual/tratamento farmacológico , Deficiência Intelectual/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Estrutura Molecular , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios/metabolismo , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/sangue , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/química , Pregnenolona/sangue , Pregnenolona/farmacologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/tratamento farmacológico , Esquizofrenia/metabolismo , Células Tumorais Cultivadas
13.
Int J Psychophysiol ; 145: 83-90, 2019 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30738815

RESUMO

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia and have been linked to abnormal activation, connectivity and integration within the auditory, language, and memory brain networks. The interhemispheric miscommunication theory of AVH is based on a steadily growing number of studies using a variety of modalities (EEG, fMRI, DTI) reporting that both altered integrity of the interhemispheric auditory pathways and disturbed functional gamma-band synchrony between right and left auditory cortices significantly contribute to abnormal auditory processing and the emergence of AVH. Moreover, initial studies using pharmacological EEG and 1H MR spectroscopy provided first insights into the underlying neurochemistry of AVH. It has been suggested that the observed interhemispheric gamma-band alterations might be mediated by an excitatory-to-inhibitory (E/I) imbalance due to dysfunction of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). In support, a potential NMDAR hypofunction is proposed to be compensated by increased levels of glutamate in prefrontal and auditory brain areas. In this mini-review paper, we used the levels of explanation approach and present how interhemispheric brain connectivity (brain-imaging level) corresponds to auditory perception (cognitive level), and eventually how these parameters are related to changes in neurotransmission (cellular level) and to the occurrence of AVH (clinical level). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first overview that overcomes traditional boundaries and presents converging evidence from different levels of knowledge that validate and support each other, and particularly point toward the role of an interhemispheric miscommunication in AVH.


Assuntos
Vias Auditivas/fisiopatologia , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Alucinações/fisiopatologia , Esquizofrenia/fisiopatologia , Vias Auditivas/diagnóstico por imagem , Percepção Auditiva/fisiologia , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Eletroencefalografia , Alucinações/diagnóstico por imagem , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Vias Neurais/diagnóstico por imagem , Vias Neurais/fisiopatologia , Esquizofrenia/diagnóstico por imagem
14.
Indian J Psychol Med ; 38(2): 152-4, 2016.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27114630

RESUMO

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a newly recognised autoimmune condition. With its typical clinical pattern, consistent association with the presence of auto antibodies and rapid improvement with immunotherapy, this condition is giving insights into the boundaries between psychiatry and other neurosciences, and is opening avenues for future research. In a young lady who presented with catatonia, we considered anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, after ruling out other aetiologies. After a positive antibody test we treated her with immunotherapy. She showed gradual improvement in her psychotic and catatonic symptoms. Knowledge regarding the nature and function of NMDA receptors and pathophysiology of this particular encephalitis is important for psychiatric practice. The great opportunity for research in this area due to its association with psychotic disorders is evident but an appeal to temper the enthusiasm by considering the historical lessons learnt from Karl Jaspers' critique of General Paresis of Insane, is in place. Catatonic syndrome has to be conceptualised broadly and should be recognised with a separate nosological position.

15.
Front Behav Neurosci ; 9: 117, 2015.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26042007

RESUMO

Psychosis is accompanied by severe attentional deficits, and impairments in associational-memory processing and sensory information processing that are ascribed to dysfunctions in prefrontal and hippocampal function. Disruptions of glutamatergic signaling may underlie these alterations: Antagonism of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) results in similar molecular, cellular, cognitive and behavioral changes in rodents and/or humans as those that occur in psychosis, raising the question as to whether changes in glutamatergic transmission may be intrinsic to the pathophysiology of the disease. In an animal model of psychosis that comprises treatment with the irreversible NMDAR-antagonist, MK801, we explored the cellular mechanisms that may underlie hippocampal dysfunction in psychosis. MK801-treatment resulted in a profound loss of hippocampal LTP that was evident 4 weeks after treatment. Whereas neuronal expression of the immediate early gene, Arc, was enhanced in the hippocampus by spatial learning in controls, MK801-treated animals failed to show activity-dependent increases in Arc expression. By contrast, a significant increase in basal Arc expression in the absence of learning was evident compared to controls. Paired-pulse (PP) facilitation was increased at the 40 ms interval indicating that NMDAR and/or fast GABAergic-mediated neurotransmission was disrupted. In line with this, MK801-treatment resulted in a significant decrease in GABA(A), and increase in GABA(B)-receptor-expression in PFC, along with a significant increase of GABA(B)- and NMDAR-GluN2B expression in the dentate gyrus. NMDAR-GluN1 or GluN2A subunit expression was unchanged. These data suggest that in psychosis, deficits in hippocampus-dependent memory may be caused by a loss of hippocampal LTP that arises through enhanced hippocampal neuronal excitability, altered GluN2B and GABA receptor expression and an uncoupling of the hippocampus-prefrontal cortex circuitry.

16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25724760

RESUMO

Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2/3) agonists once showed promise as non-dopaminergic antipsychotic drugs because of their efficacy in alleviating symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ) in both animal models and human patients. However, the recent failure of Phase III clinical trials dealt a huge blow to the scientific community and the aftershock of the setback in mGluR2/3 research can be felt everywhere from grant support and laboratory studies to paper publication. An immediate question raised is whether mGluR2/3 is still a promising therapeutic target for schizophrenia. Answering this question is not easy, but apparently a new strategy is needed. This article provides a focused review of literature on the study of mGluR2/3 agonists, especially on mGluR2/3 agonists' mechanism of action and efficacy in both normal conditions and animal models of SZ, as well as clinical studies in human patients with the disease. We argue that the cellular and molecular actions of mGluR2/3 agonists, the distinct roles between mGluR2 and mGluR3, as well as their effects on different stages of the disease and different subpopulations of patients, remain incompletely studied. Until the mechanisms associated with mGluR2/3 are clearly elucidated and all treatment options are tested, it would be a great mistake to terminate the study of mGluR2/3 as a therapeutic target for schizophrenia. This review will thus shed light on the comprehensive features of the translational potential mGluR2/3 agonists as well as the need for further research into the more selective activation of mGluR2.


Assuntos
Antipsicóticos/uso terapêutico , Agonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/uso terapêutico , Receptores de Glutamato/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Humanos , Esquizofrenia/patologia
17.
Dialogues Clin Neurosci ; 2(3): 219-32, 2000 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22034391

RESUMO

An increasing level of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction within the brain is associated with memory and learning impairments, with psychosis, and ultimately with excitotoxic brain injury. As the brain ages, the NMDA receptor system becomes progressively hypofunctional, contributing to decreases in memory and learning performance. In those individuals destined to develop Alzheimer's disease, other abnormalities (eg, amyloidopathy and oxidative stress) interact to increase the NMDA receptor hypofunction (NRHypo) burden. In these vulnerable individuals, the brain then enters into a severe and persistent NRHypo state, which can lead to widespread neurodegeneration with accompanying mental symptoms and further cognitive deterioration. If the hypotheses described herein prove correct, treatment implications may be considerable. Pharmacological methods for preventing the overstimulation of vulnerable corticolimbic pyramidal neurons developed in an animal model may be applicable to the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

18.
J Physiol Paris ; 107(6): 448-51, 2013 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23603055

RESUMO

Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world population and is a major socio-economical problem in ours societies. Cognitive symptoms are particularly resistant to current treatments and are believed to be closely related to an altered function of prefrontal cortex (PFC). Particularly, abnormalities in the plasticity processes in the PFC are a candidate mechanism underlying cognitive symptoms, and the recent evidences in patients are in line with this hypothesis. Animal pharmacological models of cognitive symptoms, notably with non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists such as MK-801, are commonly used to investigate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia. However, it is still unknown whether in these animal models, impairments in plasticity of PFC neurons are present. In this article, we briefly summarize the current knowledge on the effect of non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 on medial PFC (mPFC) neuronal activity and then introduce a form of plasticity found after acute exposure to MK-801, which was accompanied by cognitive deficits. These observations suggest a potential correlation between cognitive deficits and the aberrant plasticity in the mPFC in the animal model of schizophrenia.


Assuntos
Transtornos Cognitivos/fisiopatologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Maleato de Dizocilpina/toxicidade , Córtex Pré-Frontal/fisiologia , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/antagonistas & inibidores , Esquizofrenia/fisiopatologia , Animais , Transtornos Cognitivos/induzido quimicamente , Antagonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/toxicidade , Humanos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/fisiologia
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