title: The glycine antagonist (+)-HA-966 injected into the nucleus accumbens stimulates locomotion in mice. (Rapid communication).
abstract: We have previously observed that NMDA antagonists injected into the ventral striatum cause locomotor stimulation in both normal and monoamine-depleted mice. Since glycine receptor activation is claimed to be a prerequisite for NMDA receptor channel opening, also a glycine site antagonist injected into the ventral striatum should cause behavioural activation. The present study was aimed at investigating whether this is the case. The glycine site antagonist (+)-HA-966, as well as its (-)-enantiomer, were injected bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens of normal, habituated mice. (+)-HA-966, but not (-)-HA-966, was found to stimulate locomotion. The stereoselective response suggests that the underlying mechanism involves the NMDA receptor-coupled glycine site. The present results support the notion that a glycine agonist might be of value in the treatment of schizophrenia, whereas a glycine antagonist should be expected to have psychotogenic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Carlsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005998:Glycine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C001369:1-hydroxy-3-amino-2-pyrrolidone; D005998:Glycine