Discordant behavioral effects of psychotomimetic drugs in mice with altered NMDA receptor function.
BACKGROUND
Enhancement of N-methyl-D: -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity through its glycine modulatory site (GMS) is a novel therapeutic approach in schizophrenia. Brain concentrations of endogenous GMS agonist D: -serine and antagonist N-acetyl-aspartylglutamate are regulated by serine racemase (SR) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (GCP2), respectively. Using mice genetically, under-expressing these enzymes may clarify the role of NMDAR-mediated neurotransmission in schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the behavioral effects of two psychotomimetic drugs, the noncompetitive NMDAR antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP; 0, 1.0, 3.0, or 6.0 mg/kg), and the indirect dopamine receptor agonist, amphetamine (AMPH; 0, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg/kg), in SR -/- and GCP2 -/+ mice. Outcome measures were locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. Acute effects of an exogenous GMS antagonist, gavestinel (0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg), on PCP-induced behaviors were examined in wild-type mice for comparison to the mutants with reduced GMS activity.


RESULTS
PCP-induced hyperactivity was increased in GCP2 -/+ mice, and PCP-enhanced startle reactivity was increased in SR -/- mice. PCP disruption of PPI was unaffected in either mutant. In contrast, gavestinel attenuated PCP-induced PPI disruption without effect on baseline PPI or locomotor activity. AMPH effects were similar to controls in both mutant strains.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the PCP experiments demonstrate that convergence of pharmacological and genetic manipulations at NMDARs may confound the predictive validity of these preclinical assays for the effects of GMS activation in schizophrenia. The AMPH data provide additional evidence that hyperdopaminergia in schizophrenia may be distinct from NMDAR hypofunction.
Benneyworth
Michael A
MA
Laboratory for Psychiatric and Molecular Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
Basu
Alo C
AC
Coyle
Joseph T
JT
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000099300:Serine Racemase
D000661:Amphetamine; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D006213:Hallucinogens; D007211:Indoles; D010622:Phencyclidine; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000099300:Serine Racemase; C105319:3-(2-((phenylamino)carbonyl)ethenyl)-4,6-dichloroindole-2-carboxylic acid; C401141:glutamate decarboxylase 2