Effects of adenosinergic agonists and antagonists on the emotional, social and preattentional processes in an animal model of schizophrenia

• Grant number: 14/06961-5
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: August 01, 2014 - July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal researcher: Mariana Bendlin Calzavara
• Grantee: Mariana Bendlin Calzavara
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Vanessa Costhek Abílio

Abstract

Schizophrenia theories are beginning to be integrated through the growing evidence that the developmental risk factors, the genetic predisposition and the environmental factors which increase risk of schizophrenia appear to act by facilitating the excess of striatal dopamine that are the responsible for increased salience being given to insignificant events and thoughts, and that this underpins the development of psychotic symptoms. Dopaminergic system is classically related to schizophrenia since D2 blockers are the major class of drugs to treat it. Some evidences point to a relationship between this system and adenosinergic one. It is supposed that adenosine is a modulator of dopaminergic system. Dopaminergic D2 receptors and adenosinergic A2a receptors are co-localized in striatum. The stimulation of adenosine in A2a receptor decreases the dopamine action on D2 receptor. This could be an interesting new antipsychotic mechanism. In this sense, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of adenosinergic A2a and A1 agonists and antagonists on behavioral tests related with schizophrenia core symptoms: social interaction, that mimic negative symptoms; hyperlocomotion, that mimic positive symptoms; fear conditioning, that mimic emotional process deficits and prepulse inhibition, that mimic preattentional symptoms. This work intends to contribute to a better understanding of the phatophysiology of schizophrenia that could permit outline strategies for prevention and therapy. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RAMOS, ALINE CAMARGO; HUNGRIA, FILIPE DE MATTOS; CAMERINI, BIANCA AVANSI; SUIAMA, MAYRA AKIMI; CALZAVARA, MARIANA BENDLIN. Potential beneficial effects of caffeine administration in the neonatal period of an animal model of schizophrenia. Behavioural Brain Research, v. 391, AUG 5 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.