Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036341 (schizophrenia)
60,220 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The dopaminergic system plays a major role in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, tardive dyskinea and schizophrenia. Knowledge on altered dopamine synthesis, receptor densities and status are important for understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and therapy of diseases. PET provides a non-invasive tool to investigate these features in vivo, provided the availability of suitable radiopharmaceuticals. To investigate presynaptic function, PET-tracers have been developed to measure dopamine synthesis and transport. For the former the most commonly used tracers are 6-[(18)F]FDOPA and 6-[(18)F]FMT, whereas for the latter several (11)C/(18)F-labeled tropane analogues are being clinically used. Postsynaptically, dopamine exerts actions through several subtypes of the dopamine receptor. The dopamine receptor family consists of 5 subtypes D(1)-D(5). In order to investigate the role of each receptor subtype, selective and high-affinity PET-radioligands are required. For the dopamine D(1)-subtype the most commonly used ligand is [(11)C]SCH 23390 or [(11)C]NNC 112, whereas for the D(2)/D(3)-subtype [(11)C]raclopride is a common tracer. [(18)F]Fallypride is a suitable PET-tracer for the investigation of extrapyramidal D(2)-receptors. For the other subtypes no suitable radioligands have been developed yet. This paper gives an overview of the current status on dopamine PET-tracers and the development of new lead compounds as potential PET-tracers by medicinal chemistry.
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PMID:PET tracers for imaging of the dopaminergic system. 1691 44

Sympathetic neural outflow to thermoregulatory cutaneous vascular beds is selectively activated when the individual is aroused, so that cutaneous blood flow is characterized by sudden alerting-related falls to near zero levels ("SCVARs", sympathetic cutaneous vasomotor alerting responses). Our previous work shows that clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug used in schizophrenia, profoundly inhibits SCVARs. Clozapine, conventionally assumed to have a dopamine D(2) receptor antagonist action, also increases baseline cutaneous blood flow and lowers body temperature. However dopamine D(2) receptor agonists lower temperature, suggesting that a dopamine D(2)agonist action might also reduce SCVARs. The present study determined whether a dopamine D(2)agonist action contributes to clozapine's SCVAR-inhibiting effect. SCVARs were measured in conscious rats with a Doppler ultrasonic flow probe chronically implanted around the base of the artery, with probe wires passing subcutaneously to a headpiece. Doppler signals were monitored via a flexible connection between the headpiece and a swivel device in the roof of the cage. Apomorphine (0.1-0.5 mg/kg), quinpirole (0.05-0.25 mg/kg) and 7-OH-DPAT (0.02-0.5 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced SCVARs. Pre-treatment with the dopamine receptor antagonist spiperone (20 microg/kg) but not the D(1) antagonist SCH-23390 or the peripheral dopamine D(2) antagonist domperidone, abolished this effect. Spiperone pre-treatment reduced the SCVAR-inhibiting action of clozapine (0.06-1.0 mg/kg). Chlorpromazine (0.1-10 mg/kg) also dose-dependently inhibited SCVARs, but this effect was not reduced by pre-treatment with spiperone. Mechanisms underlying clozapine's SCVAR-inhibiting effect include dopamine D(2) receptor agonism, not dopamine D(2) receptor antagonism, calling into question the mechanism of the drug's therapeutic action in schizophrenia.
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PMID:Activation of dopamine D2 receptors in the CNS inhibits sympathetic cutaneous vasomotor alerting responses (SCVARs), contributing to clozapine's SCVAR-inhibiting action. 1705 39

Social withdrawal is the first sign and key component of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The efficacy of risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic, on the symptom is practically limited by dose-dependent side effects in clinical trials, therefore there is the need for adjuvant treatments. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the synergistic effect and mechanism of risperidone and galantamine, which is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-allosteric modulator and a modest cholinesterase inhibitor, on phencyclidine (PCP)-treated mouse model of social withdrawal. At non-effective doses by themselves, co-administration of galantamine (0.05mg/kg) and risperidone (0.05mg/kg) showed synergistic effects on PCP-induced impairments of social interaction and dopamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The behavioral synergistic effect was abolished by the administration of a dopamine-D(1) receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.02mg/kg, systemic; or 0.02microg/0.5microL/mouse, intra-mPFC), and a nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine (3mg/kg), but not a muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine (0.1mg/kg). Mecamylamine (3mg/kg) also abolished the synergistic effect on dopamine release in the mPFC. We conclude that galantamine may have synergistic effect with risperidone on the negative symptom of social withdrawal in schizophrenia, which is mediated by dopamine-D(1) receptors in the mPFC through nAChR activation-increased dopamine release.
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PMID:Synergistic effect of galantamine with risperidone on impairment of social interaction in phencyclidine-treated mice as a schizophrenic animal model. 1731 62

The clinically achievable efficacy of the atypical antipsychotics on cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia is practically limited by their dose-dependent side effects. Thus, there is the need for adjuvant treatments or strategies for the cognitive impairments. Further, human autopsy and genetic data in schizophrenia have indicated the existence of the abnormality of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the synergistic effect and mechanisms of a combined treatment with an atypical antipsychotic risperidone and galantamine, which is a nAChR-allosteric modulator and a modest cholinesterase inhibitor, on the impairment of latent visuospatial learning and memory in mice resembling the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia. Repeated treatment with phencyclidine (PCP, 10 mg/kg, 14 days)-induced cognitive impairment in mice in a one trial water-finding test was used as a model of the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia. In vivo microdialysis was used to investigate the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Combined treatment with galantamine and risperidone, at low, ineffective doses (both at 0.05 mg/kg) showed a synergistic effect to reverse cognitive impairment and increase extracellular concentration of dopamine in the mPFC. The synergistic behavioral effect was abolished by a dopamine-D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, and a nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine, but not a muscarinic AChR (mAChR) antagonist, scopolamine. Mecamylamine also blocked the synergistic effect on dopamine release in the mPFC of PCP-treated mice. The study indicates that galantamine and risperidone may have synergistic effect on the cognitive impairments in schizophrenia patients by synergistically promoting the nAChR activation-dependent increase of dopamine D1 receptor-mediated neurotransmission.
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PMID:Synergistic effect of combined treatment with risperidone and galantamine on phencyclidine-induced impairment of latent visuospatial learning and memory: Role of nAChR activation-dependent increase of dopamine D1 receptor-mediated neurotransmission. 1763 85

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present abnormalities in emotion processing. A previous study showed that the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a putative animal model of ADHD, present reduced contextual fear conditioning (CFC). The aim of the present study was to characterize the deficit in CFC presented by SHR. Adult male normotensive Wistar rats and SHR were submitted to the CFC task. Sensitivity of the animals to the shock and the CFC performance after repeated exposure to the task were investigated. Pharmacological characterization consisted in the evaluation of the effects of the following drugs administered previously to the acquisition of the CFC: pentylenetetrazole (anxiogenic) and chlordiazepoxide (anxiolytic); methylphenidate and amphetamine (used for ADHD); lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and valproic acid (mood stabilizers); haloperidol, ziprasidone, risperidone, amisulpride, and clozapine (neuroleptic drugs); metoclopramide and SCH 23390 (dopamine antagonists without antipsychotic properties); and ketamine (a psychotomimmetic). The effects of paradoxical sleep deprivation (that worsens psychotic symptoms) and the performance in a latent inhibition protocol (an animal model of schizophrenia) were also verified. No differences in the sensitivity to the shock were observed. The repeated exposure to the CFC task did not modify the deficit in CFC presented by SHR. Considering pharmacological treatments, only the neuroleptic drugs reversed this deficit. This deficit was potentiated by proschizophrenia manipulations. Finally, a deficit in latent inhibition was also presented by SHR. These findings suggest that the deficit in CFC presented by SHR could be a useful animal model to study abnormalities in emotional context processing related to schizophrenia.
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PMID:Neuroleptic drugs revert the contextual fear conditioning deficit presented by spontaneously hypertensive rats: a potential animal model of emotional context processing in schizophrenia? 1828 13

High levels of homocysteine (Hcy) were suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Recent investigations have shown that treatment with folic acid, vitamin B-12 and pyridoxine are effective in reducing Hcy levels while concomitantly reducing the score of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients. In addition to the availability of nutrients (mainly folate, vitamins B6 and B12), plasma Hcy concentrations are dependent on complex metabolic regulation that could be disrupted in schizophrenia. This study was designed to test the influence of disease activity on plasma Hcy levels. Plasma Hcy concentrations were measured in male chronic schizophrenic patients with a predominantly positive (SCH (+)) or predominantly negative (SCH (-)) syndrome in schizophrenia immediately upon admission to the hospital (exacerbation phase) and one month later (remission phase). During this period patients received antipsychotic medications without vitamin therapy. The effects of age, duration of illness, folate and B12 concentrations, as well as smoking and coffee consumption habits on the observed changes were evaluated. Age- and sex-matched subjects were included in the control group. In the control group plasma Hcy concentration was 8.75+/-1.84 micromol/L. In the exacerbation phase plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly increased both in SCH (+) (14.91+/-6.19 micromol/L) and SCH (-) groups (12.8+/-3.27 micromol/L). There was no difference in plasma Hcy concentrations between SCH (+) and SCH (-) patients. Serum folate and B12 concentrations were not significantly different in any of the investigated groups of subjects. The plasma Hcy concentrations could not be correlated with age, duration of illness, the score of positive symptoms or the concentration of folate and vitamin B12. A positive correlation was found between plasma Hcy level and score of negative symptoms in both groups of patients. No correlation was found between smoking or coffee consumption habits and plasma Hcy concentrations. All patients exhibited decreased plasma Hcy levels in the remission phase of the illness, with a mean decrease of 2.68+/-1.57 micromol/L. Folate and B12 levels did not differ in the exacerbation and remission phases of the illness. The significant decrease of plasma Hcy levels, without changes in folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in the remission phase of schizophrenia, could indicate an influence of a pathogenetic process involved in schizophrenia on Hcy metabolism.
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PMID:Plasma homocysteine levels in young male patients in the exacerbation and remission phase of schizophrenia. 1882 63

Cognitive impairment has been found across all subtypes of schizophrenia. The location and function of dopamine-1 receptors (D1Rs) make them attractive targets for the treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Here we investigate the systemic effect of a D1R agonist (A77636) and antagonist (SCH 23390) on hyperlocomotor activity and cognitive deficit induced by an NMDA receptor antagonist (MK-801). Wistar rats (250-300 g) received A77636 (0.1, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) or SCH 23390 (0.02 or 0.05 mg/kg) with MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) or saline for 4 d. On day 4 we assessed the prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response, locomotor activity in a novel arena and active allothetic place avoidance (spatial memory task) 15 min after the last injection. Systematic administration of the D1R agonist at 0.1 mg/kg ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in our model of schizophrenia, but increases stereotypy and locomotor activity (model of psychotic symptoms) at higher doses (0.5 or 1 mg/kg). Administration of the D1R antagonist had no effect on cognitive function, but decreased hyperlocomotion induced by MK-801. Thus, based on our results, over-activation of D1Rs may exacerbate psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
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PMID:The effect of a full agonist/antagonist of the D1 receptor on locomotor activity, sensorimotor gating and cognitive function in dizocilpine-treated rats. 1915 30

Postnatal hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors leads to several behavioral deficits in adult rats resembling deficits typical of schizophrenia-like deficits of sensorimotor gating. Thus far, it is not known whether the above disruptions are sensitive to neuroleptic drugs. In order to verify the above model in pharmacological terms, we investigated whether deficits in the sensorimotor gating evoked by administration of NMDA receptor antagonists in the postnatal period is sensitive to neuroleptic drugs. We also investigated whether such treatment evoked alterations in the expression of dopamine D(1), D(2) and D(3) receptors in the nucleus accumbens, a key structure for dopamine-dependent alterations in sensorimotor gating. CGP 40116, a competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors was given in doses of 1.25 mg/kg on days 1, 3, 6 and 9; 2.5 mg/kg on days 12, 15 and 18; and 5 mg/kg on day 21 (all injections were sc). The efficacy of sensorimotor gating was tested on rats at the age of 60 days using a prepulse-induced inhibition of the startle reflex. In order to measure the expression of dopamine D(1), D(2) and D(3) receptors, we used quantitative autoradiography and tritiated ligands i.e. [(3)H]-SCH 23390, [(3)H]-Spiperone and [(3)H]-7-OH-DPAT, respectively. Haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, sc), risperidone (1.0 mg/kg, sc) and clozapine (2.5 mg/kg, sc) reversed deficits of sensorimotor gating observed in adult rats evoked by the postnatal administration of CGP 40116. We also observed enhanced density of dopamine D(3), but not D(1) and D(2) receptors in the nucleus accumbens of CGP40116 treated rats. It is concluded that models of cognitive dysfunction, typical for schizophrenia based on postnatal administration of NMDA receptor antagonists, are sensitive to neuroleptic drugs and possibly not dependent on alteration in the density of dopaminergic receptors.
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PMID:Detrimental effect of postnatal blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on sensorimotor gating is reversed by neuroleptic drugs. 1921 77

The inducible gene Homer1a has been considered a candidate gene for schizophrenia. Drugs efficacious in schizophrenia and acting as dopamine receptor antagonists induce Homer1a expression, although the specific role of the different dopamine receptors in its induction is not completely known. In this study, we explored Homer1a expression induced by selective antagonists at dopamine receptors (SCH-23390, D(1) receptor selective antagonist, 0.5 mg/kg; L-741,626, D(2) receptor selective antagonist, 2 mg/kg; U-99194, D(3) receptor selective antagonist, 5 mg/kg; L-745,870, D(4) receptor selective antagonist, 3 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.8 mg/kg), and terguride (0.5 mg/kg), a partial agonist at D(2) receptors. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of two Homer1a-related genes which play essential roles in synaptic plasticity: mGluR5 and Homer1b. Gene expression was analyzed in brain regions relevant for schizophrenia pathophysiology and therapy, namely the striatum, the cortex, and the hippocampus. In striatum, Homer1a was induced by D(2) receptor antagonists and, with a different distribution, by SCH-23390. In the cortex, Homer1a was differentially induced by D(1), D(2), and D(3) receptors antagonists, while haloperidol and terguride did not affect or reduced its expression. Homer1b expression was reduced by L-741,626, L-745,870, terguride, and haloperidol in the ventral caudate-putamen, in the nucleus accumbens and in the cortex, while SCH-23390 increased the expression in the core of the accumbens. mGluR5 expression was increased by SCH-23390 in the dorsomedial putamen, the core of the accumbens, and in some hippocampal subregions. A reduction of gene expression by terguride and an increase by L-745,870 was observed in the dorsomedial putamen. The changes in expression suggest that these gene transcripts are differentially regulated by antagonism at different dopamine receptors.
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PMID:Dopamine receptor subtypes contribution to Homer1a induction: insights into antipsychotic molecular action. 1924 98

While many studies have sought a window into the genetics of schizophrenia, few have focused on African-American families. An exception is the Project among African-Americans to Explore Risks for Schizophrenia (PAARTNERS), which seeks to identify novel and known risk variation for schizophrenia by genetic analyses of African-American families. We report a linkage study of diagnostic status in 217 African-American families using the Illumina Linkage Panel. Due to assumed incomplete and time-dependent penetrance, we performed linkage analysis using two different treatments of diagnosis: (1) treating both affected and unaffected individuals as informative for linkage (using the program SIBPAL) and (2) treating only affected individuals as informative (using the program MERLIN). We also explore three definitions of affected status: narrowly defined schizophrenia; one broadened to include schizoaffective disorder; and another including all diagnoses indicating psychosis. Several regions show a decrease in the evidence for linkage as the definition broadens 8q22.1 (rs911, 99.26 cM; SIBPAL p-value [p] goes from 0.006 to 0.02), 16q24.3 (rs1006547, 130.48 cM; p from 0.00095 to 0.0085), and 20q13.2 (rs1022689, 81.73 cM; p from 0.00015 to 0.032). One region shows a substantial increase in evidence for linkage, 11p15.2 (rs722317, 24.27 cM; p from 0.0022 to 0.0000003); MERLIN results support the significance of the SIBPAL results (p=0.00001). Our linkage results overlap two broad, previously-reported linkage regions: 8p23.3-p12 found in studies sampling largely families of European ancestry; and 11p11.2-q22.3 reported by a study of African-American families. These results should prove quite useful for uncovering loci affecting risk for schizophrenia.
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PMID:Linkage analysis of schizophrenia in African-American families. 1926 55


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