The 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 6 agonist EMD 386088 ameliorates ketamine-induced deficits in attentional set shifting and novel object recognition, but not in the prepulse inhibition in rats.

Abstract

Preclinical data suggest that the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 6 (5-HT6) receptor may be a potential target for the development of new therapies for treating cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia and other central nervous system disorders. Recent evidence indicates that not only blockade but also activation of 5-HT6 receptors exerts procognitive effects. Nevertheless, little is known about the potential efficacy of 5-HT6 receptor agonists in models of schizophrenia-like cognitive deficits. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the 5-HT6 receptor agonist, EMD 386088, on the ketamine-induced deficits in the attentional set-shifting task (ASST), novel object recognition (NOR) task and prepulse inhibition (PPI) task in rats. Acute administration of EMD 386088 (2.5 and 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) to Sprague-Dawley rats reversed the deficit in the ASST induced by repeated ketamine administration. Moreover, the ketamine-induced deficit in the NOR task was ameliorated by EMD 386088 at a dose of 5 mg/kg. However, in contrast to the antipsychotic drug clozapine, the 5-HT6 agonist did not affect PPI disrupted by ketamine. The present study demonstrated the beneficial effects of the 5-HT6 agonist in ameliorating some of the ketamine-induced deficits relevant to schizophrenia. It thus seems likely that the 5-HT6 receptor activation may represent a useful pharmacological approach to the treatment of cognitive disturbances observed in this disorder.

• Authors: Agnieszka Nikiforuk, Katarzyna Fijał, Agnieszka Potasiewicz, Piotr Popik, Tomasz Kos
• Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol) Vol. 27 Issue 5 Pg. 469-76 (May 2013) ISSN: 1461-7285 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23479455 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)-1H-indole
• Antipsychotic Agents
• Indoles
• Pyridines
• Receptors, Serotonin
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists
• serotonin 6 receptor
• Serotonin
• Ketamine
• Clozapine

Topics

• Animals
• Antipsychotic Agents (pharmacology)
• Attention (drug effects)
• Clozapine (pharmacology)
• Cognition Disorders (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Indoles (pharmacology)
• Ketamine (pharmacology)
• Male
• Pattern Recognition, Physiological (drug effects)
• Pyridines (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Serotonin (metabolism)
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Serotonin (metabolism)
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists (pharmacology)