Mao Horio

Co-administration of a D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor potentiates the efficacy of D-serine in attenuating prepulse inhibition deficits after administration of dizocilpine.

BACKGROUND D-Serine, an endogenous agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, is effective in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, orally administered D-serine is metabolized substantially by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO), diminishing its oral bioavailability. In this study, we examined the effects of oral D-serine administration with or without a DAAO inhibitor, 5-chloro-benzo[d]isoxazol-3-ol (CBIO), on the prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits after administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine. METHODS Vehicle or D-serine (30, 300, or 900 mg/kg) with or without CBIO (30 mg/kg) was orally administered to mice 1 hour before administration of dizocilpine (.1 mg/kg), and then the PPI of the acoustic startle response was measured. We measured the extracellular levels of D-serine in the frontal cortex after oral administration of D-serine with or without CBIO. RESULTS Coadministration of CBIO with D-serine (30 mg/kg), but not D-serine (30 mg/kg) alone, significantly attenuated dizocilpine-induced PPI deficits. Furthermore, coadministration of CBIO significantly increased the extracellular levels of D-serine in the frontal cortex after administration of D-serine. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that coadministration of CBIO significantly enhanced the efficacy of D-serine in attenuating PPI deficits by administration of dizocilpine. Therefore, coadministration of D-serine and a DAAO inhibitor has therapeutic potential for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Phencyclidine-induced cognitive deficits in mice are ameliorated by subsequent subchronic administration of donepezil: role of sigma-1 receptors.

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of two acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil and physostigmine) on cognitive deficits in mice after repeated administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP). In the novel object recognition test, PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 10 days)-induced cognitive deficits were significantly improved by subsequent subchronic (14 days) administration of donepezil (1.0 mg/kg/day), but not donepezil (0.1 mg/kg/day). Furthermore, the effect of donepezil (1.0 mg/kg/day) on PCP-induced cognitive deficits was significantly antagonized by co-administration of the selective sigma-1 receptor antagonist NE-100 (1.0 mg/kg/day), suggesting the role of sigma-1 receptors in the active mechanisms of donepezil. In contrast, PCP-induced cognitive deficits were not improved by subsequent subchronic (14 days) administration of physostigmine (0.25 mg/kg/day). Moreover, repeated administration of PCP significantly caused the reduction of sigma-1 receptors in the hippocampus. The present study suggests that agonistic activity of donepezil at sigma-1 receptors plays a role in the active mechanisms of donepezil on PCP-induced cognitive deficits in mice. Therefore, it is likely that donepezil would be potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of the cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Minocycline produced antidepressant-like effects on the learned helplessness rats with alterations in levels of monoamine in the amygdala and no changes in BDNF levels in the hippocampus at baseline.

Previous studies have indicated that minocycline might function as an antidepressant drug. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of minocycline, which is known to suppress activated microglia, using learned helplessness (LH) rats (an animal model of depression). Infusion of minocycline into the cerebral ventricle of LH rats induced antidepressant-like effects. However, infusion of minocycline into the cerebral ventricle of naïve rats did not produce locomotor activation in the open field tests, suggesting that the antidepressant-like effects of minocycline were not attributed to the enhanced locomotion. LH rats showed significantly higher serotonin turnover in the orbitofrontal cortex and lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus than control rats. However, these alterations in serotonin turnover and BDNF expression remained unchanged after treatment with minocycline. On the contrary, minocycline treatment of LH rats induced significant increases in the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the amygdala when compared with untreated LH rats. Taken together, minocycline may be a therapeutic drug for the treatment of depression.

Therapeutic effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 positive allosteric modulator CDPPB on phencyclidine-induced cognitive deficits in mice.

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of CDPPB (3‐cyano‐N‐(1,3‐diphenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)benzamide), a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5), on cognitive deficits in mice after repeated administration of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP). In the novel object recognition test, PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 10 days)‐induced cognitive deficits in mice were not improved by a single administration of CDPPB (10 mg/kg/day). However, PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 10 days)‐induced cognitive deficits in mice were significantly improved by subsequent subchronic (14 days) administration of CDPPB (10 mg/kg/day), but not of CDPPB (1.0 mg/kg/day). This study suggests that PCP‐induced cognitive deficits in mice are improved by subsequent subchronic administration of CDPPB. Therefore, mGlu5 PAMs would be potential therapeutic drugs for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Improvement of Phencyclidine-Induced Cognitive Deficits in Mice bySubsequent Subchronic Administration of Fluvoxamine, but notSertraline

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of the two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs: flu- voxamine and sertraline) with a high affinity at sigma-1 receptors on cognitive deficits in mice after repeated administra- tion of the N-methyl-D-asparatte (NMDA) receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP). In the novel object recognition test (NORT), PCP (10 mg/kg/day, 10 days)-induced cognitive deficits in mice were significantly improved by subsequent subchronic (14 days) administration of fluvoxamine (20 mg/kg/day), but not sertraline (10 or 20 mg/kg/day). Western blot analysis revealed that repeated administration of PCP (10 mg/kg/day, 10 days) caused the reduction of sigma-1 receptors in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of mouse brain. These findings suggest that repeated administration of PCP caused the reduction of sigma-1 receptors in the mouse brain, and that sigma-1 receptor agonists such as fluvoxamine may be useful for treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Effects of D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor on the extracellular D-alanine levels and the efficacy of D-alanine on dizocilpine-induced prepulse inhibition deficits in mice

D-Alanine, one of D-amino acids present in the mammalian brain, is a selective and potent agonist at the N- methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Like D-serine, D-alanine is reported to be effective in the treatment of schizo- phrenia. However, orally given D-alanine is metabolized substantially by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO), diminishing its oral bioavailability. In this study, we studied the effects of oral D-alanine administration with or without the novel DAAO inhibitor, 5-chloro-benzo(d)isoxazol-3-ol (CBIO), on the extracellular D-alanine levels in the brain and on the prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits after administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine. Co-administration of CBIO (30 mg/kg) with D-alanine (100 mg/kg), but not D-alanine (100 mg/kg) alone, significantly attenuated dizocilpine (0.1 mg/kg)-induced PPI deficits in mice. The in vivo microdialysis study of the conscious and free moving mice revealed that co-administration of CBIO (30 mg/kg) significantly increased extracellular levels of D-alanine in the frontal cortex after oral administration of D-alanine (100 mg/kg). These findings suggest that co-administration of CBIO can increase the bioavailability of D-alanine after oral administration of D-alanine, and that co-administration of CBIO can enhance the ef- ficacy of D-alanine on dizocilpine-induced PPI deficits. Therefore, combination of D-alanine and a DAAO inhibitor such as CBIO offers new therapeutic potential for treatment of schizophrenia.

Role of Serine Racemase in Behavioral Sensitization in Mice after Repeated Administration of Methamphetamine

Background The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play a role in behavioral abnormalities observed after administration of the psychostimulant, methamphetamine (METH). Serine racemase (SRR) is an enzyme which synthesizes D-serine, an endogenous co-agonist of NMDA receptors. Using Srr knock-out (KO) mice, we investigated the role of SRR on METH-induced behavioral abnormalities in mice. Methodology/Principal Findings Evaluations of behavior in acute hyperlocomotion, behavioral sensitization, and conditioned place preference (CPP) were performed. The role of SRR on the release of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens after administration of METH was examined using in vivo microdialysis technique. Additionally, phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 proteins in the striatum, frontal cortex and hippocampus were examined using Western blot analysis. Acute hyperlocomotion after a single administration of METH (3 mg/kg) was comparable between wild-type (WT) and Srr-KO mice. However, repeated administration of METH (3 mg/kg/day, once daily for 5 days) resulted in behavioral sensitization in WT, but not Srr-KO mice. Pretreatment with D-serine (900 mg/kg, 30 min prior to each METH treatment) did not affect the development of behavioral sensitization after repeated METH administration. In the CPP paradigm, METH-induced rewarding effects were demonstrable in both WT and Srr-KO mice. In vivo microdialysis study showed that METH (1 mg/kg)-induced DA release in the nucleus accumbens of Srr-KO mice previously treated with METH was significantly lower than that of the WT mice previously treated with METH. Interestingly, a single administration of METH (3 mg/kg) significantly increased the phosphorylation status of ERK1/2 in the striatum of WT, but not Srr-KO mice. Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest first, that SRR plays a role in the development of behavioral sensitization in mice after repeated administration of METH, and second that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 by METH may contribute to the development of this sensitization as seen in WT but not Srr-KO mice.

Decreased levels of free D-aspartic acid in the forebrain of serine racemase (Srr) knock-out mice.

d-Serine, an endogenous co-agonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is synthesized from l-serine by serine racemase (SRR). A previous study of Srr knockout (Srr-KO) mice showed that levels of d-serine in forebrain regions, such as frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, but not cerebellum, of mutant mice are significantly lower than those of wild-type (WT) mice, suggesting that SRR is responsible for d-serine production in the forebrain. In this study, we attempted to determine whether SRR affects the level of other amino acids in brain tissue. We found that tissue levels of d-aspartic acid in the forebrains (frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum) of Srr-KO mice were significantly lower than in WT mice, whereas levels of d-aspartic acid in the cerebellum were not altered. Levels of d-alanine, l-alanine, l-aspartic acid, taurine, asparagine, arginine, threonine, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and methionine, remained the same in frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum of WT and mutant mice. Furthermore, no differences in d-aspartate oxidase (DDO) activity were detected in the forebrains of WT and Srr-KO mice. These results suggest that SRR and/or d-serine may be involved in the production of d-aspartic acid in mouse forebrains, although further detailed studies will be necessary to confirm this finding.

Decreased susceptibility to seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole in serine racemase knockout mice.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptor plays a key role in excitatory synaptic transmission. The overactivation of the NMDA receptor has been implicated in the development of epileptic seizures. D-Serine is a coagonist of the NMDA receptor and its biosynthesis is catalyzed by serine racemase (SR). Here, we examined the effect of d-serine deficiency on the seizures induced by a single injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) using SR knockout (KO) mice. We found that, compared with wild-type (WT) mice, SR-KO mice showed the attenuation of seizure expression in terms of a significantly shortened duration of generalized seizures and resistance to generalized clonic-tonic seizures. Consistently, immunohistochemical analysis of c-Fos demonstrated that the numbers of cells expressing c-Fos induced by high-dose PTZ in the cerebral cortex, hippocampal CA1, hippocampal CA3, and the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala in WT mice were significantly higher than those in SR-KO mice. Moreover, PTZ induced an increase in extracellular glutamate level in the dentate gyrus of WT mice at two different time phases. However, such a PTZ-induced increase in glutamate level was completely inhibited in SR-KO mice. The present findings suggest that SR may be a target for the development of new therapeutic strategies for epileptic seizures.

Is D-cycloserine a prodrug for D-serine in the brain?

To the Editor: D -cycloserine (DCS), (4R)-4-amino-1,2-oxazolidin-3-one, is a partial agonist at the strychnine-insensitive glycine modulatory site associated with the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex. DCS is also a less efficient ligand of NMDA receptor function than endogenous full agonists, such as glycine and D-serine. At high doses, DCS acts as an antagonist by displacing more efficacious endogenous agonists, but at moderate doses, DCS facilitates glutamatergic neurotransmission via the NMDA receptor. Recent meta-analysis shows that glycine, D-serine, and sarcosine (N-methylglycine), an endogenous glycine transporter-1 inhibitor, are more effective than DCS in improving the overall psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic drugs (1). This suggests a relatively narrow therapeutic window for DCS, most likely due to its partial agonist properties. A meta-analysis of both animals and humans demonstrated that DCS enhances prolonged exposure therapy, a cognitive-behavioral therapy, used in patients with anxiety disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (2), although a recent meta-analysis conducted in humans showed no significant effects of dose timing or dose number on the treatment efficacy of DCS (3). Animal studies have suggested that fear of extinction has been linked to NMDA receptor function in the basolateral amygdala and that DCS can enhance extinction effects (4). When fear extinction takes place during DCS treatment, the usual forms of neuroplasticity are enhanced, along with the recruitment of additional forms of neuroplasticity, to enhance extinction and protect against reinstatement (5). These findings imply that DCS could be an effective therapeutic agent for enhancing exposure-