Novel treatments of schizophrenia: targeting the neurotensin system.
Evidence implicating neural circuits that utilize the neuropeptide transmitter neurotensin (NT) in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and in the mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs has previously been reviewed. The majority of evidence, taken together, supports the development of NT receptor agonists as novel antipsychotic drugs. This review comprehensively describes the NT receptor subtypes, discusses the development of NT receptor agonists and the behavioral effects of currently available NT receptor agonists. The compilation of data suggests that NT receptor agonists may represent a novel class of antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Kinkead
B
B
Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. cnemero@emory.edu
Nemeroff
C B
CB
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000819:agonists* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000819:agonists* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; C042090:neuromedin N; C077659:xenin 25; D009496:Neurotensin