Lurasidone reverses MK-801-induced impairment of learning and memory in the Morris water maze and radial-arm maze tests in rats

We have previously shown that lurasidone, a novel atypical antipsychotic, potently reverses learning impairment induced by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 in the rat passive avoidance test. However, the effects of lurasidone in other learning and memory tasks remain to be investigated. We investigated the effects of lurasidone and other marketed antipsychotics (risperidone, clozapine, aripiprazole, and haloperidol) on MK-801-induced impairment of learning and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM) and radial-arm maze (RAM) tests in rats. Learning and memory impairment in the MWM test, as measured by escape latency, escape distance, and diving behavior, and in the RAM test, as measured by reference and working memory errors, was induced by MK-801 (i.p.) at doses of 0.15 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively. In the MWM test, lurasidone (1 and 3 mg/kg p.o.) potently reversed MK-801-induced learning impairment. In the RAM test, lurasidone (1 and 3 mg/kg p.o.) potently reversed MK-801-induced reference memory impairment and moderately but not significantly attenuated MK-801-induced working memory impairment. Risperidone (0.3 and 1mg/kg p.o.), clozapine (3 and 10 mg/kg p.o.), aripiprazole (0.3 and 1mg/kg p.o.), and haloperidol (0.3 and 1mg/kg p.o.) did not reverse MK-801-induced impairment of learning and memory in both tasks. Lurasidone, but not the other antipsychotics tested in this study, reverses MK-801-induced impairment of learning and memory in both the MWM test and the RAM test. These results suggest that lurasidone would be more effective in treating schizophrenics with cognitive dysfunction than current antipsychotics.     

T-817MA, a novel neurotrophic agent, ameliorates loss of GABAergic parvalbumin-positive neurons and sensorimotor gating deficits in rats transiently exposed to MK-801 in the neonatal period

T-817MA [1-{3-[2-(1-benzothiophen-5-yl)ethoxy]propyl}azetidin-3-ol maleate] is a newly synthesized neuroprotective agent for the treatment of psychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive disturbances, such as Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive impairment has also been suggested to be a cardinal feature of schizophrenia. We sought to determine whether T-817MA would ameliorate sensorimotor gating deficits and loss of parvalbumin (PV)-positive γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in the brain of rats transiently exposed to MK-801, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blocker, in the neonatal stage, as an animal model of schizophrenia. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) was examined in rats treated neonatally with MK-801 (postnatal day; PD 7-10, 0.2 mg/kg/day, s.c.) or vehicle at PD 35 and PD 63. The number of PV-positive GABAergic neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the hippocampus was measured after the behavioral assessments. T-817MA (10 or 20 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered for 14 days (on PD 49-62). Administration of T-817MA at 20 mg/kg, but not 10 mg/kg, ameliorated PPI deficits and completely reversed the decrease in the number of PV-positive GABAergic neurons in rats given MK-801. These results indicate that T-817MA may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cognitive deficits of schizophrenia.     

Metaphit-Induced Audiogenic Seizure and Its Inhibition by MK-801: Electroencephalographic and Behavioral Characterization

Summary: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to intense sound stimulation from an electric bell (100 dB and 12 KHz for 60 s) after a single intraperitoneal (i.p. 50 mg/kg) injection of metaphit [l-(l-/3 isothiocyanatophenyl-cyclohexyl) piperidine]. EEG recordings demonstrated appearance of paroxysmal activity and spike-wave complexes from cortical electrodes, with frequency and amplitude increasing with time. Metaphit-induced audiogenic seizures in the rats were tested 24 h after metaphit administration. The seizures consisted of wild running followed by clonic and tonic convulsions, and the seizure pattern could be elicited at hourly intervals for the next 24 h in all tested animals. Forty-eight hours after metaphit administration, susceptibility to sound stimulation began to decrease gradually. The first component of seizure response to disappear was tonic extension, followed by disappearance of clonic convulsion; the last component to disappear was running behavior. Each behavioral seizure response had a characteristic EEG correlate. After ～50 h, no animal responded to sound stimulation. The noncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, MK-801 [5-methyl-10, ll-dihydro-5H-dibenzo (a, d) cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate] was evaluated as an anticonvulsant against metaphit-induced audiogenic seizures in two experiments. In the first experiment, MK-801 was administered in a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg i.p. 23.5 h after metaphit injection and 30 min before sound stimulation, which completely blocked both the EEG and the behavioral response to sound stimulation for 37 h. After that time, seizure susceptibility began to appear and within 7 h reached a maximum, at which time all animals responded with a complete pattern of a severe seizure. During the next 5 h, seizure susceptibility began to abate gradually and disappeared completely 76 h after metaphit administration. The EEG and behavioral responses did not differ from those elicited in animals treated with metaphit alone. In the second experiment, MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) administered 30 min before metaphit did not protect the animals from the effects of metaphit but significantly reduced the incidence of clonic-tonic seizures. EEG signs of seizure susceptibility and progressive increase in epileptic discharges were not suppressed by MK-801. Results suggest that MK-801 is an anticonvulsant rather than an antiepileptic agent in the metaphit-induced audiogenic seizure model.     

Antagonism of the non-opioid component of ethanol-induced analgesia by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801

Recent evidence from our laboratory suggests that the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine) selectively antagonizes non-opioid (i.e. naloxone-insensitive) mechanisms of stress-induced analgesia in mice. For example, we have recently demonstrated that a low dose of MK-801 (0.075 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonizes the non-opioid component of a mixed opioid/non-opioid swim stress-induced analgesia (SSIA) resulting from forced swimming for 3 min in 20°C water. Since ethanol-induced analgesia (EIA) has been found to be only partially attenuated by naloxone, we hypothesized that MK-801 would similarly block the non-opioid component of EIA. The effects of MK-801 and of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) on analgesia produced by ethanol (2.5 g/kg in 20% vol/vol, i.p.) were studied in control mice and in mice selectively bred for high (HA) or low (LA) SSIA. HA mice showed significantly more, and LA mice significantly less, EIA than controls. Naloxone and MK-801 significantly attenuated EIA in control and HA mice, and in these lines the combined administration of both antagonists blocked EIA completely. In LA mice, which displayed very little EIA, naloxone but not MK-801 reversed EIA completely. These findings provide additional evidence for the role of the NMDA receptor in non-opioid mechanisms of analgesia. The finding that mice selectively bred for high and low SSIA also display high and low EIA suggests common mediation of the effects of stress and ethanol on antinociceptive processes.     

Neonatal exposure to the glutamate receptor antagonist MK-801: effects on locomotor activity and pre-pulse inhibition before and after sexual maturity in rats

Neonatal lesions of the ventral hippocampus in rats lead to post- but not pre-pubertal behavioral changes suggesting adolescent onset of dopaminergic hypersensitivity and providing an animal model of schizophrenia. Neonatal exposure to glutamate receptor antagonists produces accelerated apoptosis leading to neuronal loss in central nervous system structures including the hippocampus. This suggested that neonatal MK-801 might lead to behavioural changes like those reported following ventral hippocampal lesions. Thus, rats received MK-801 (0, 0.5, 1.0 mg/kg ip) on postnatal day 3 (P3) and were tested pre- (P35) and post-pubertally (P56). MK-801 produced an increase in TUNEL staining in the hippocampus and other forebrain structures, confirming the induction of apoptosis. Results showed little difference in locomotor activity between neonatal saline- and MK-801-treated groups during habituation or following saline injection but increased activity was seen in the 0.5 mg/kg MK-801 group following amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg i.p.) at P35 but not P56. In tests of pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), neonatal saline and MK-801 groups showed stable startle amplitudes, minimal responding to the pre-pulse stimuli alone, an increase in PPI with increases in pre-pulse intensity, and reduced PPI with apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg s.c.). At P56, neonatal MK-801 groups tested following vehicle showed less sensitivity to changes in pre-pulse intensity. It was concluded that neonatal MK-801 increases apoptotic cell loss in the hippocampus but does not produce behavioural effects like those seen after neonatal ventral hippocampal lesions. However, neonatal MK-801 did lead to increases in locomotor activity in juveniles but not adults and reduced sensitivity to pre-pulse intensity in PPI tests in adulthood.     

The effects of dizocilpine (MK-801), phencyclidine, and nimodipine on infarct size 48 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

The effects of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine and the non-competitive NMDA-antagonists MK-801 and phencyclidine (PCP) on infarct size 48 h after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA-O) were evaluated in the rat. Nimodipine was given at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg s.c. 30 min prior and 8, 16, and 24 h after MCA-O. MK-801 (1 mg/kg i.p. or 10 mg/kg i.p.) or PCP (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10, or 30 mg/kg i.p.) were administered 30 min prior to ischemia. In additional experiments 30 mg/kg PCP was given 1, 3, or 5 h post ischemia. Nimodipine and 1 mg/kg MK-801 reduced cortical infarct volumes significantly by 50% and 55%, respectively, while cortical infarct size fell by 32% and total infarct volume was not altered significantly after administration of 10 mg/kg MK-801. Pretreatment with 10 or 30 mg/kg PCP reduced cortical infarction by 47-53% and total infarct volumes by 39-42%. Posttreatment with PCP was effective if started at 1 or 3 h post ischemia.     

MK-801 neurotoxicity in male mice: histologic effects and chronic impairment in spatial learning

Several histological and behavioral experiments were conducted to investigate the neurotoxic effects of MK-801 in male mice. Moderate subcutaneous (s.c.) doses of MK-801 (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) induced the formation of intracytoplasmic vacuoles in pyramidal neurons in layers III and IV of the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial (PC/RS) cortex in 50% and 100% of the mice from the two respective treatment groups. Electron microscopic analysis of the vacuoles indicated that mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are the cellular organelles most prominently involved in this pathomorphological change. Treating mice with a high systemic dose of MK-801 (10 mg/kg s.c. or intraperitoneal (i.p.)) caused selective, irreversible degeneration of a small number of PC/RS cortical neurons. Compared to saline controls, the acquisition performance of mice treated i.p. with 10 mg/kg MK-801 was chronically impaired on a spatial learning task (modified hole board food search task) when tested at several posttreatment intervals (up to at least 5 months), although the groups did not differ on activity or sensorimotor tests conducted 2 weeks posttreatment. In summary, MK-801 caused histopathological changes in the mouse brain similar to those observed in the rat. Furthermore, high dose MK-801 treatment that killed a small number of mouse PC/RS cortical neurons resulted in a chronic acquisition impairment in spatial learning, an effect not previously demonstrated in any species.     

Effect of MK-801 on endogenous dopamine release in vivo

The effect of MK-801 on striatal dopamine (DA) release was investigated by using an in vivo microdialysis technique in the freely moving rat. Systemic injection of MK-801 (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the extracellular level of DA significantly and produced no change in the level of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. The behavioral observation, recorded simultaneously, revealed that MK-801, with smaller doses, produced ipsilateral circling toward the side with the dialysis probe. At larger doses, MK-801 predominantly evoked ataxia. These findings indicate that the behavioral effect of MK-801 may not be mediated via the release of DA.     

Oxiracetam prevents the MK-801 induced amnesia for the elevated plus-maze in mice

We investigated the effect of the nootropic substance oxiracetam on the impairment of memory induced in mice by the non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801. Memory capacities of animals having different experience were evaluated using the elevated plus-maze test. Oxiracetam was injected immediately after the acquisition session(s), MK-801 was given 30 min before the retention session which followed 24 h after the acquisition session(s). In slightly experienced animals (Section 3.1), oxiracetam (3 and 30 mg/kg, s.c.) prevented MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg, i.p.) induced memory deficits characterized by a prolongation of the transfer latency. In well-trained animals (Section 3.2), oxiracetam (30 mg/kg, s.c.) attenuated MK-801 (0.15,0. 25 and 0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) induced amnesia for a spatial orientation in the elevated plus-maze. These results show that oxiracetam interacted with the glutamatergic NMDA receptor system and forestalled the impairment of retrieval of long-term memory. The results also justify the usage of the elevated plus-maze method in the evaluation of potential anti-amnesic or nootropic drugs.     

Posthypoxic treatment with MK-801 reduces hypoxic-ischemic damage in the neonatal rat

We evaluated the neuroprotective effect of MK-801, a noncompetitive, selective N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, in a neonatal hypoxic-ischemic animal model. Seven-day-old rats underwent bilateral ligation of the carotid arteries followed by exposure to an 8% oxygen atmosphere for 1 hr. We sacrificed the animals 72 hrs later and assessed the hypoxic-ischemic brain damage histologically. MK-801 (10 mg/kg), administered IP 0.5 hr before the hypoxia, completely prevented hypoxic-ischemic infarction in cerebral cortex, while treatment immediately and 1 hr after the end of the hypoxia resulted in 76% and 52% reduction in the infarcted area, respectively. MK-801, given 0.5 hr before and immediately after the insult, reduced striatal damage and, given 0.5 hr before, attenuated neuronal necrosis in hippocampal regions. These results show that in neonates MK-801 is neuroprotective even when administered up to 1 hr after the end of a hypoxic-ischemic insult.     

MK-801 fails to modify the effect of methamphetamine on dopamine release in the rat striatum

The effect of MK-801 at a dose of 0.5 mg kg-1, i.p., on methamphetamine-induced (MAP; 4 mg kg-1, i.p.) dopamine (DA) release was examined in the striatum of freely moving rats using an in-vivo microdialysis method. Combined treatment of MK-801 with MAP did not modify the MAP-induced increase in extracellular DA levels or the decrease in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels. These findings suggest that MK-801 fails to modify the acute effect of MAP on DA release in the striatum. The blocking effect of MK-801 on the development of MAP-induced behavioral sensitization is unlikely to be mediated by DA neurons.     

Effects of MK-801 and Phenytoin on Flurothyl-Induced Seizures During Development

Summary We determined the effects of the N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker MK-801 (0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally, i.p.) and phenytoin (PHT, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg i.p.) on flurothyl-induced clonic and tonic-clonic seizures in 9-, 1 5, 30-, and 60-day-old male rats. Both agents had seizure-, age-, and dose-specific effects. The highest dose of MK-801 was anticonvulsant against clonic flurothyl-induced seizures only in 9- and 60-day-old rats, but suppressed tonic-clonic seizures in all ages. The lowest dose of MK-801 (0.05 mg/kg) produced significant anticonvulsant effects only in 15 day old rats. PHT did not have any effect on clonic seizures throughout development. Both doses of PHT (10 and 20 mg/kg) were anticonvulsant against tonic-clonic seizures in adult rats but not in any other age group. The results indicate that NMDA receptors play an important role in tonic-clonic flurothyl-induced seizures throughout development (especially in 15-day-old rats) and that the anticonvulsant effects of PHT may vary at different stages of brain development.     

Involvement of NMDA receptors in morphine state-dependent learning in mice

In the present study, the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of NMDA receptor agonist and antagonist on impairment of memory formation and the state-dependent learning by morphine have been investigated in mice. Pretraining administration of morphine (5 mg/kg; s.c.) decreased the learning of one-trial passive avoidance task. Pretest administration of morphine (5 mg/kg) induced state-dependent learning acquired under pretraining morphine influence. Pretest administration of NMDA receptor agonist, L-glutamate (0.00001 and 0.0001 and 0.001 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) following pretraining saline treatment did not affect retention. Amnesia induced by pretraining morphine was significantly reversed by pretest administration of L-glutamate (0.0001 and 0.001 microg/mouse, i.c.v.). Pretest administration of noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801 (0.5, 1, and 2 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) significantly impaired memory formation. Amnesia induced by pretraining morphine was increased by pretest administration of MK-801 (2 microg/mouse, i.c.v.). Pretest coadministration of L-glutamate (0.0001 and 0.001 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) or MK-801 (0.5, 1, and 2 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) with morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) increased and decreased morphine state-dependent learning, respectively. The results suggest that NMDA receptors are involved in morphine state-dependent learning in mice.     

INVOLVEMENT OF NMDA RECEPTORS IN MORPHINE STATE–DEPENDENT LEARNING IN MICE

In the present study, the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of NMDA receptor agonist and antagonist on impairment of memory formation and the state-dependent learning by morphine have been investigated in mice. Pretraining administration of morphine (5 mg/kg; s.c.) decreased the learning of one-trial passive avoidance task. Pretest administration of morphine (5 mg/kg) induced state-dependent learning acquired under pretraining morphine influence. Pretest administration of NMDA receptor agonist, L-glutamate (0.00001 and 0.0001 and 0.001 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) following pretraining saline treatment did not affect retention. Amnesia induced by pretraining morphine was significantly reversed by pretest administration of L-glutamate (0.0001 and 0.001 μg/mouse, i.c.v.). Pretest administration of noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801 (0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) significantly impaired memory formation. Amnesia induced by pretraining morphine was increased by pretest administration of MK-801 (2 μg/mouse, i.c.v.). Pretest coadministration of L-glutamate (0.0001 and 0.001 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) or MK-801 (0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) with morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) increased and decreased morphine state-dependent learning, respectively. The results suggest that NMDA receptors are involved in morphine state–dependent learning in mice.     

MK-801 alters the effects of priming with L-DOPA on dopamine D1 receptor-induced changes in neuropeptide mRNA levels in the rat striatal output neurons.

In a previous study, we have shown in unilaterally dopamine-depleted rats that increased behavioral responsiveness to the dopamine D1-receptor agonist SKF-38393, which was induced by pretreatment with L-DOPA, is paralleled by specific alterations in striatal neuropeptide mRNA levels. The behavioral 'priming' effect of L-DOPA is prevented if L-DOPA is preceded by the NMDA-receptor antagonist MK-801. In the present study, the question is addressed whether blockade of the increased behavioral responsiveness with MK-801 also prevents the observed changes in striatal neuropeptide mRNA levels. After a challenge with SKF-38393 (3 mg/kg, s.c.), the striatal levels of preprodynorphin, preprotachykinin, and preproenkephalin mRNA were compared between unilaterally dopamine-depleted rats that were either primed with a single administration of L-DOPA (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or with L-DOPA preceded by MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.). Priming with L-DOPA enhanced the increase in dynorphin mRNA levels in the dorsolateral part of the dopamine-depleted striatum that occurred after SKF-38393. On the other hand, it had no significant effect on substance P or enkephalin mRNA levels. MK-801 prior to L-DOPA prevented the increased responsiveness of dynorphin regulation. However, it induced a decreased response to dopamine D1-receptor stimulation in the substance P mRNA levels in dorsal regions of the dopamine-depleted striatum. The levels of enkephalin mRNA after challenge with SKF-38393 were not affected by the MK-801 administration. These results demonstrate that the increased behavioral responsiveness to the D1-receptor agonist SKF-38393 after priming with L-DOPA is primarily related to the upregulation of dynorphin mRNA levels in the dopamine-depleted striatum.     

Spontaneous alternation behaviour in rats: kynurenic acid attenuated deficits induced by MK-801

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of pharmacological modulation of the NMDA receptors on spontaneous alternation behaviour. The performance of rats treated with MK-801 and kynurenic acid (KYNA) was assessed in the cross-arm-maze. We evaluated: (a) the total number of arm entries representing locomotor activity, (b) spontaneous variation of different arms thought to reflect alternation performance. In the first experiment, MK-801 (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 min prior to the testing. Beginning the dose of 0.05 mg/kg the drug increased locomotion and impaired alternation performance. An ability of animals to enter subsequently three or four different arms was reduced significantly. In the second experiment, the dose of 0.05 mg/kg was chosen as the lowest possible dose of MK-801 producing marked behavioural impairment. KYNA (0.3, 3 and 30 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered 60 min prior to the MK-801. While all KYNA doses prevented hyperlocomotion, only the highest dose (30 mg/kg) maintained alternation score at the control levels, i.e. the KYNA plus MK-801 treated animals alternated regularly three or four different arms. The results suggest different sensitivity of the two behavioural systems, i.e. locomotion and space orientation, towards pharmacological insult. In conclusion, the study confirmed protective behavioural effects of KYNA given in sufficient amounts and sufficiently long prior MK-801.     

D-Serine and a glycine transporter inhibitor improve MK-801-induced cognitive deficits in a novel object recognition test in rats

Compounds enhancing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor function have been reported to improve cognitive deficits. Since cognitive deficits are considered to be the core symptom of schizophrenia, enhancing NMDA receptor function represents a promising approach to treating schizophrenia. In the present study, we investigated whether d-serine or a glycine transporter inhibitor N-[3-(4'-fluorophenyl)-3-(4'-phenylphenoxy)propyl]sarcosine (NFPS), both of which enhance NMDA receptor function, could improve MK-801-induced cognitive deficits in rats, and compared their effects with those of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine and of the typical antipsychotic haloperidol. To assess cognitive function, we used a novel object recognition test in rats that measured spontaneous exploratory activity of a novel object when paired with a familiar object. We then evaluated the effects of the compounds on cognitive deficits induced by treatment with MK-801, the NMDA receptor antagonist. Pretreatment with clozapine (1, 5 mg/kg, i.p.) but not haloperidol (0.03, 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly improved MK-801-induced cognitive deficits. Pretreatment with D-serine at 800 mg/kg (i.p.) or NFPS (0.3, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly improved MK-801-induced cognitive deficits under this test paradigm. These findings suggest that impaired preference for novel objects induced by MK-801 in the novel object recognition test could be a useful animal model for evaluating the efficacy of compounds targeting the cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenic patients. The results also suggest that enhancing NMDA receptor function is an effective way for treating the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.     

The evaluation of antimuscarinic-induced convulsions in fasted rats after food intake

The present study was performed to evaluate convulsions after food intake in fasted rats pretreated with scopolamine or atropine and to determine whether these convulsions respond to drugs found effective in fasted mice. Scopolamine (2.4 mg/kg) and atropine (2.4 mg/kg) were given intraperitoneally (i.p.) to rats fasted for 52h. Both drugs induced convulsions after animals were allowed to eat ad lib. Another group of fasted rats pretreated with saline, MK-801 (0.1mg/kg), clonidine (0.1mg/kg), chlorpromazine (2 and 4 mg/kg), valproate (200mg/kg), diazepam (1.5 and 2mg/kg) or gabapentin (50mg/kg) were treated i.p. with saline or scopolamine (2.4 mg/kg) and were allowed to eat ad lib. Clonidine, MK-801, chlorpromazine (4 mg/kg) and diazepam (2 mg/kg) reduced the incidence of scopolamine-induced convulsions in fasted rats. Gabapentin could only prolong the onset of convulsions. Neither treatment was effective against myoclonus of hindlimbs. Present results showed that fasted rats also develop antimuscarinic-induced convulsions which do not completely respond to treatments found effective in convulsions of fasted mice.     

Systemic administration of MK-801 protects against ischemia-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration in the gerbil

The neuroprotective effects of MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, were evaluated in models of cerebral ischemia using Mongolian gerbils. Bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries for a period of 5 min resulted in a consistent pattern of degeneration of hippocampal CA1 and CA2 pyramidal neurons, which was quantified using an image analyzer. Systemic administration of MK-801 (0.01-10 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 hr prior to the occlusion caused a dose-dependent protection of the CA1 and CA2 neurons. The ED50 value for neuroprotection by MK-801 was calculated to be 0.3 mg/kg, and at doses greater than or equal to 3 mg/kg the majority of animals were completely protected against the ischemic insult. Systemic administration of MK-801 (1 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 hr prior to unilateral occlusion of the right carotid artery resulted in significant protection against hippocampal neurodegeneration following 10 min of occlusion, and increased the survival rate after 30 min of occlusion. The potent neuroprotective effects of MK-801 in these cerebral ischemia models add further weight to the evidence that NMDA receptors are involved in the mechanism of ischemia-induced neuronal degeneration.     

奥氮平对谷氨酸功能低下的精神分裂症小鼠模型的作用

目的 观察奥氮平对谷氨酸功能低下小鼠模型表现出的高活动性及前脉冲抑制(PPI)缺失的作用.方法 昆明种小鼠165只.(1)取36只小鼠分为4组:溶媒空白对照组(腹腔注射溶媒,以下简称对照组),3种奥氮平剂量(0.1 mg/kg体质量,0.2 mg/kg体质量,0.3 mg/kg体质量,腹腔注射)组,每组8～10只;观察奥氮平对小鼠探究行为和自主活动的影响.(2)取49只小鼠分为5组:对照组,地卓西平马来酸盐(MK-801)模型组(溶媒+MK-801,0.25 mg/kg体质量,腹腔注射),3种剂量(同上)奥氮平干预组(奥氮平+MK-801 0.25 mg/kg体质量,腹腔注射),每组9～10只;观察奥氮平对MK-801致小鼠自主活动增加的影响.(3)取80只小鼠分为8组:对照组,MK-801模型组(溶媒+MK-801,0.5 mg/kg体质量,腹腔注射),3种奥氮平剂量给药组(奥氮平+生理盐水,奥氮平剂量分别为0.3 mg/kg体质量,1 mg/kg体质量,3 mg/kg体质量),3种奥氮平剂量(同上)干预组(奥氮平+MK-801 0.5 mg/kg体质量,腹腔注射),每组10只;观察奥氮平对基线前脉冲抑制(PPI)及MK-801引起的PPI缺失的影响.结果 (1)与对照组比较,奥氮平剂量为0.2 mg/kg体质量和0.3mg/kg体质量时,小鼠的探究行为及自主活动总路程减少(P均＜0.05);但剂量为0.1 mg/kg时,对小鼠的探究行为(P=0.363)及自主活动(P=0.196)无影响.(2)奥氮平剂量为0.1～0.3 mg/kg体质量时,呈剂量依赖性抑制MK-801引起的自主活动增加(P均＜0.05).(3)奥氮平剂量为0.3～3mg/kg体质量时,对基线的PPI无影响(P均＞0.05),剂量为1～3 mg/kg时呈剂量依赖性修复了MK-801引起的PPI缺失(P均＜0.05).结论 奥氮平能够特异性地抑制谷氨酸功能低下小鼠模型表现出的高活动性和PPI缺失,与奥氮平的临床药理作用一致.