Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors as Targets for Novel Antipsychotic Drugs

摘要: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder which substantially impairs patients’ quality of life. Despite the extensive research in this field, pathophysiology and aetiology schizophrenia remain unknown. Different neurotransmitter systems functional networks have been found to be affected brain patients with schizophrenia. In context, postmortem studies as well genetic assays suggested alterations Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) many years drug research, several needs treatment not addressed sufficiently. fact, only 5-10% successfully achieve full recovery after treatment. recent mGluRs turned up novel targets for design new antipsychotic medications Concretely, are particular interest due their regulatory role neurotransmission modulating glutamatergic activity synapses. Preclinical demonstrated that orthosteric mGluR agonists exhibit antipsychotic-like properties animal models However, when these compounds tested human clinical schizophrenic results inconclusive. Nevertheless, it has recently apparent lack efficacy may related previous exposure atypical antipsychotics. Moreover, heterocomplex formed by 5-HT2A mGlu2 response currently under study.