title: Dopamine neurotransmission and atypical antipsychotics in prefrontal cortex: a critical review.
abstract: Schizophrenia has been historically characterized by the presence of positive symptomatology, however, decades of research highlight the importance of cognitive deficits in this disorder. At present, cognitive impairments remain one of the most important unmet therapeutic needs in schizophrenia. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) controls a large number of higher brain functions altered in a variety of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Histological studies indicate the presence of a large proportion of PFC neurons expressing monoaminergic receptors sensitive to the action of current atypical antipsychotics. Functional studies also show that these medications act at PFC level to increase dopamine neurotransmission in the mesocortical pathway. Here we focus on monoaminergic molecular targets that are actively being explored as potential therapeutic agents in the basic and clinical cognitive neuroscience research, to support the development of co-treatments used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications. These targets include dopamine and serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex, as well as elements of the noradrenergic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masana
authors.forename: Noemí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artigas
authors.forename: Analía
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bortolozzi
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000378:metabolism; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000378:metabolism; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D004298:Dopamine