Indirect modulation of dopamine D2 receptors as potential pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia: II. Glutamate (Ant)agonists.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the published preclinical and clinical data that suggest the possible use of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists as novel antipsychotic agents.


METHODS
Primary and review articles were identified by MEDLINE search (from 1966 to December 1999) and through secondary sources.


METHODS
All of the articles identified from the data sources were evaluated and all information deemed relevant was included.


RESULTS
The standard antipsychotic drugs, whose clinical activity correlates with affinity for dopamine D2 receptors, alleviate some of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but have limited impact on negative symptoms. Several lines of evidence implicate glutamate-receptor system dysfunction(s) in schizophrenia, either as causative or contributory factors. In addition, several standard antipsychotic drugs modulate glutamate or glutamate receptor activity, suggesting an alternative view of their mechanism of antipsychotic action. Preliminary studies have shown that drugs which modulate glutamate brain concentrations have positive effects in animal models of schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
A role for glutamate in the pathogenesis or pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia is suggested from anatomic (interactions between glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems in relevant brain regions), physiologic (implication of glutamate-receptor dysfunction), and pharmacologic (modulation of glutamate or glutamate receptors) evidence. Therefore, compounds that function at glutamate receptors might represent a novel approach to the treatment of the disease or to the amelioration of symptoms, either as monotherapy or as an adjunct to dopamine D2 receptor antagonists.
Carfagno
M L
ML
School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Hoskins
L A
LA
Pinto
M E
ME
Yeh
J C
JC
Raffa
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; C104753:eglumetad