Behavioral studies of hallucinogenic drugs in animals : Implications for schizophrenia research

摘要: Schizophrenic and schizotypal patients exhibit deficits in the habituation prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle responses, providing operational measures sensorimotor gating or filtering suggested to contribute cognitive disorganization these patients. In rats, hallucinogens, entactogens, NMDA antagonists share ability both retard disrupt PPI. Extensive pharmacological studies rats have indicated that effects hallucinogens on are mediated by direct agonist actions at 5-HT2 receptors. The entactogens PPI reflect indirect due stimulation presynaptic serotonin release. These observations supported development 5-HT2A for treatment schizophrenia. Animal shown is modulated multiple interacting neurotransmitters, including dopaminergic, serotonergic, cholinergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic systems within cortical, limbic, striatal, brainstem structures. PCP other insensitive either dopaminergic serotonergic antagonists, but reduced atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine, olanzapine, Seroquel. Thus, model schizophrenia-like offers promise identification neurobiological investigation antipsychotics. cross-species study homologous functions, PPI, animal models psychiatric provides novel opportunities exploration substrates relevant group schizophrenias.