Clozapine inhibits development and expression of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization in rats

It has been shown that clozapine, the prototype of atypical antipsychotics, significantly reduces daily cigarette use and alcohol consumption in schizophrenic patients. However, our knowledge about the effect of clozapine on nicotine abuse is limited. Aim of this study was to determine whether clozapine would inhibit the development and expression of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization in rats. To investigate the effect of clozapine on the development of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization, rats were pretreated with clozapine (2.5-10 mg/kg) 30 min before the nicotine (0.5 mg/kg), and locomotor activity was recorded for 15 min. This procedure was repeated every day for eight sessions. After a 3-day drug-free period, rats were challenged with nicotine (0.5 mg/kg). To reveal effect of clozapine on the expression of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization, rats were injected with nicotine for eight sessions. After a 3-day drug-free period, rats were pretreated with clozapine (2.5-10 mg/kg) or vehicle 30 min before the nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) challenge injection. Repeated administration or nicotine generated robust locomotor sensitization in rats. Clozapine pretreatment (2.5-10 mg/kg) blocked the development and the expression of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization in rats. Our results suggest that atypical antipsychotic clozapine can prevent the effects of nicotine in an animal model of dependence, which represents early adaptations in initiation and continuation of addictive behavior

Impact of baseline prepulse inhibition on nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization in rats

The rats having high locomotor reactivity to a novel environment (LRNE) are known to be more vulnerable to develop locomotor sensitization, which reflects the initial neuroplastic changes in brain systems related to addictive behaviours. The present study aimed to investigate whether sensorimotor gating level, measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex, also reflects vulnerability for nicotine sensitization. A batch of rats was assigned into three groups according to their baseline PPI values. The highest 1/3 and the lowest 1/3 proportions were selected and defined as high-inhibitory (HI) and low-inhibitory (LI) groups. LRNE was measured in the rats, then they were treated with nicotine (1 mg/kg, tartrate salt, subcutaneously) or saline and locomotor activity (LMA) was immediately recorded for 15 min. This procedure was performed daily for 5 successive days. After a 3-day drug-free period, all rats were challenged with nicotine (1 mg/kg) on 9th day and with saline on 12th day. Same sensitization protocol was applied in another batch of rats, except assigning them into the high-responder (HR) and low-responder(LR) groups according to LRNE levels. There was no significant difference between HI and LI rats in LRNE. Although the acute effect of nicotine on LMA was higher in HI rats, a locomotor sensitization developed and expressed only in LI rats. In the following experiments, nicotine stimulated LMA both in HR and LR rats, but induced and expressed locomotor sensitization only in HR rats. The present study shows that acute locomotor stimulant effect and locomotor sensitization developing effects of nicotine are associated with the baseline PPI and LRNE levels. But these two factors are independent from each other

Increased plasma agmatine levels in patients with schizophrenia

Agmatine is an endogenous substance, synthesized from L-arginine, and it is proposed to be a new neurotransmitter. Preclinical studies indicated that agmatine may have an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was organized to investigate plasma agmatine in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls. Eighteen patients with schizophrenia and 19 healthy individuals constituted the subjects. Agmatine levels in the plasma were measured using the HPLC method. The S100B protein level, which is a peripheral biomarker for brain damage, was also measured using the ELISA method. While plasma levels of agmatine in patients with schizophrenia were significantly increased (p 0.05). A multiple regression analysis revealed that the age of the patient and the severity of the illness, as indicated by the PANSS score, significantly contributed the plasma agmatine levels in patients with schizophrenia. These results support the hypothesis that an excess agmatine release is important in the development of schizophrenia. The findings also imply that the plasma agmatine level may be a potential biomarker of schizophrenia