title: Effects of the D3 and autoreceptor-preferring dopamine antagonist (+)-UH232 in schizophrenia.
abstract: The aminotetralin derivative (+)-UH232 is a dopamine-receptor antagonist with complex pharmacological properties, including a 4:1 selectivity for the D3 vs. D2 receptor and a preference for the autoreceptors. Its behavioral profile differs markedly from that of other dopamine antagonists in exhibiting both stimulant and inhibitory features. In an effort to elucidate the role of different dopamine receptor subtypes in psychosis, we administered (+)-UH232 to drug-free schizophrenic patients. Six patients received single doses of (+)-UH232 over a dose range of 80 to 180 mg in a rising-dose, double-blind placebo-controlled design. Efficacy and safety were assessed over 8 hours after a single dose. In none of the patients at any of the doses was there an indication of a symptomatic psychosis improvement in response to (+)-UH232. On the contrary, an examination of individual cases revealed symptomatic worsening, such as increases in unusual thought content, anxiety, activation and hostility in four patients. No extrapyramidal movements were noted. Safety assessments were benign. These preliminary data suggest that putative dopamine D3 antagonism, in combination with preferential autoreceptor antagonism, does not alleviate but rather tends to worsen psychosis, at least following a single-dose regimen. However, the possibility cannot be excluded that a 5-HT2- receptor agonistic action of (+)-UH232, suggested by some animal data, has played a role in this treatment outcome. Replication with more selective agents and multiple dose regimens is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21228, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tamminga
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017660:Autoreceptors; C493593:DRD3 protein, human; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; C045971:UH 232