title: Glycine site N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist 7-CTKA produces rapid antidepressant-like effects in male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists exert fast-acting antidepressant effects, providing a promising way to develop a new classification of antidepressant that targets the glutamatergic system. In the present study, we examined the potential antidepressant action of 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CTKA), a glycine recognition site NMDA receptor antagonist, in a series of behavioural models of depression and determined the molecular mechanisms that underlie the behavioural actions of 7-CTKA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered the forced swim test, novelty-suppressed feeding test, learned helplessness paradigm and chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm in male rats to evaluate the possible rapid antidepressant-like actions of 7-CTKA. In addition, we assessed phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (p-GSK3β) level, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) function, and postsynaptic protein expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute 7-CTKA administration produced rapid antidepressant-like actions in several behavioural tests. It increased p-GSK3β, enhanced mTOR function and increased postsynaptic protein levels in the mPFC. Activation of GSK3β by LY294002 completely blocked the antidepressant-like effects of 7-CTKA. Moreover, 7-CTKA did not produce rewarding properties or abuse potential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible that 7-CTKA modulates glutamatergic transmission, thereby causing enduring alterations of GSK3β and mTOR signalling, although we did not provide direct evidence to support this possibility. Thus, the therapeutic involvement of synaptic adaptions engaged by 7-CTKA requires further study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that acute 7-CTKA administration produced rapid antidepressant-like effects, indicating that the behavioural response to 7-CTKA is mediated by GSK3β and mTOR signalling function in the mPFC.
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shen-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meng-Meng
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hai-Shui
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ruo-Xi
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zeng-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002867:Chromones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic / Q000187:drug effects; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002867:Chromones; D020536:Enzyme Activators; D009025:Morpholines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; C546845:mTOR protein, rat; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605508:Gsk3b protein, rat; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D007736:Kynurenic Acid; C057013:7-chlorokynurenic acid