title: Reduced activation of intracellular signaling pathways in rat prefrontal cortex after chronic phencyclidine administration.
abstract: Evidence exists that schizophrenia is characterized by deficits in cell-cell communication and information processing. In the present study, we used the phencyclidine (PCP) animal model of schizophrenia to investigate possible defects in intracellular signaling proteins involved in neuroplasticity. Western Blot analysis has been performed to determine total and phospho-protein levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (alphaCaMKII) and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) of rat chronically treated with PCP, whereas their mRNA levels were determined by real time RT-PCR. We found reduced levels of P-ERK1/2, P-alphaCaMKII and P-CREB in prefrontal cortex of PCP-treated animals when compared to controls, whereas no effects were observed on total protein or mRNA levels. Conversely, no significant changes were detected on protein levels or mRNA expression in hippocampus. Given the role of ERK1/2, alphaCaMKII and CREB in neuroplastic mechanisms and cell communication, our data suggest that their decreased activation following chronic PCP administration can contribute to cortical defects occurring in schizophrenia, and may therefore represent potential targets for pharmacological intervention.
authors.affiliation: Center of Neuropharmacology, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. raffaella.molteni@unimi.it
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moraschi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gennarelli
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Racagni
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000235:genetics; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000633:toxicity*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D010622:Phencyclidine