Perinatal MK-801 treatment affects age-related changes in locomotor activity from childhood to later adulthood in rats.
Neuronal degeneration underlying the pathology of schizophrenia is already present during childhood. However, most of these studies were done in adult humans or animals. The present study therefore investigated age-related changes of behavior in an innovative version of the Open Field Maze following perinatal chronic administration of the noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist MK-801. The waxing and waning pattern of locomotor activity during aging with a peak around the age of 90 days was profoundly attenuated by MK-801. MK-801 further reduced locomotion and body weight in mature rats. However, it increased explorative behavior in immature rats. Therefore, the chronic perinatal administration of MK-801 seems to be a model to investigate the pathological mechanisms of psychomotor retardation and body weight dysregulation in schizophrenia.
Schiffelholz
Thomas
T
Experimental Sleep Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Niemannsweg 147, D24105 Kiel, Germany. schiffelholz@psychiatry.uni-kiel.de
Hinze-Selch
Dunja
D
Aldenhoff
Josef B
JB
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate