Abstract
Deficient inhibitory processing of the P50 auditory evoked potential is a measurable marker observed in schizophrenia. Several lines of evidence suggest that α7 nicotinic receptors (α7 nAChRs) play a critical role in P50 auditory sensory gating in the human brain. Similar to schizophrenic patients, DBA/2 mice spontaneously exhibit a deficit in inhibitory processing of the P20-N40 auditory evoked potential, which is a rodent analogue of the human P50 auditory evoked potential. Agonists at α7 nAChRs improve deficient inhibitory processing of the P20-N40 auditory gating potential in DBA/2 mice. In this article, we review the role of α7 nAChRs in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and α7 nAChR agonists and indirect agonists (5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists, positive allosteric modulators (galantamine, 5-hydroxyindole, PNU-120596), FK960, FR236924) at α7 nAChRs as potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia. In addition, we also discuss the role of kynurenic acid as an endogenous antagonist of α7 nAChRs in brain.
Keywords: a nicotinic receptors, auditory gating, sensory gating, cognition, schizophrenia
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Central Nervous System Agents
Title: α7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonists as Potential Therapeutic Drugs for Schizophrenia
Volume: 5 Issue: 3
Author(s): Kenji Hashimoto, Kaori Koike, Eiji Shimizu and Masaomi Iyo
Affiliation:
Keywords: a nicotinic receptors, auditory gating, sensory gating, cognition, schizophrenia
Abstract: Deficient inhibitory processing of the P50 auditory evoked potential is a measurable marker observed in schizophrenia. Several lines of evidence suggest that α7 nicotinic receptors (α7 nAChRs) play a critical role in P50 auditory sensory gating in the human brain. Similar to schizophrenic patients, DBA/2 mice spontaneously exhibit a deficit in inhibitory processing of the P20-N40 auditory evoked potential, which is a rodent analogue of the human P50 auditory evoked potential. Agonists at α7 nAChRs improve deficient inhibitory processing of the P20-N40 auditory gating potential in DBA/2 mice. In this article, we review the role of α7 nAChRs in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and α7 nAChR agonists and indirect agonists (5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists, positive allosteric modulators (galantamine, 5-hydroxyindole, PNU-120596), FK960, FR236924) at α7 nAChRs as potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia. In addition, we also discuss the role of kynurenic acid as an endogenous antagonist of α7 nAChRs in brain.
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Cite this article as:
Hashimoto Kenji, Koike Kaori, Shimizu Eiji and Iyo Masaomi, α7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonists as Potential Therapeutic Drugs for Schizophrenia, Current Medicinal Chemistry - Central Nervous System Agents 2005; 5 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568015054863828
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568015054863828 |
Print ISSN 1568-0150 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6158 |
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