The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology
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Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. · Jun 2016
5-HT 1A Agonist Properties Contribute to a Robust Response to Vilazodone in the Novelty Suppressed Feeding Paradigm.
Differences in 5-HT 1A receptor function have been implicated in vulnerability to depression and in response to treatment. Adding 5-HT 1A partial agonists to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors has been touted as a strategy to increase their efficacy. Here we use the novelty suppressed feeding paradigm to compare the effects of vilazodone, a high-potency selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, with high affinity for 5-HT 1A receptors to the reference selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine across several mouse strains that differ in their response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. ⋯ In mice, vilazodone may offer advantages in time of onset and efficacy over a reference selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the novelty suppressed feeding test.
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Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. · Jun 2016
Involvement of the Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons of the Direct Pathway in the Motor Stimulant Effects of Phencyclidine.
The psychotomimetic phencyclidine (PCP) produces behavioral symptoms similar to those observed in schizophrenia, accompanied by increased motor activity. The dopamine and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein of 32kDa (DARPP-32) is enriched in the medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum and has been implicated in the actions of PCP. We examined the effects of deletion of DARPP-32 in distinct populations of striatal MSNs, on the ability of PCP to induce motor activation and memory deficit. ⋯ The increase in DARPP-32 phosphorylation induced by PCP occurs selectively in the MSNs of the direct pathway, which are also specifically involved in the motor stimulant effects of this drug. The memory deficit induced by PCP is not linked to the expression of DARPP-32 in striatal MSNs.