title: [Effects of sigma receptor ligands on psychiatric disorders].
abstract: It has recently been suggested that sigma receptors are involved in psychiatric disorders. Sigma 1 receptor antagonists are effective in animal models of positive symptoms, cognitive deficit and disruption of prepulse inhibition in schizophrenia. They also inhibit the development and expression of the conditioned place preference induced by cocaine. On the other hand, sigma 1 receptor agonists reduce the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests. Furthermore, sigma 1 receptor agonists attenuate the conditioned fear stress (CFS) response (which is not attenuated by typical anxiolytics or antidepressants) in rodents. The attenuating effects are mediated through sigma 1 receptors, which are closely related to the mesolimbic dopaminergic systems. Sigma 1 receptor agonists also have anti-amnesic effects in various experimental models. Neurosteroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and pregnenolone sulfate attenuate the CFS response and have anti-amnesic effects, the effects being mediated via sigma 1 receptors. These findings suggest that sigma receptors are novel potential targets for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, drug abuse, depression and dementia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-0934, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nabeshima
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008024:Ligands; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000097605:Sigma-1 Receptor
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D008024:Ligands; D011284:Pregnenolone; D011374:Progesterone; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D000097605:Sigma-1 Receptor; C018370:pregnenolone sulfate