Cannabinoid receptor antagonists counteract sensorimotor gating deficits in the phencyclidine model of psychosis.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology October 1, 2007 Martina Ballmaier, Marco Bortolato, Cristina Rizzetti et al.
CB1 receptor antagonists rimonabant and AM251 reversed deficits in sensorimotor gating caused by phencyclidine in rats, an effect comparable to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. Rimonabant also attenuated gating disruptions from dizocilpine and apomorphine. No augmentation was seen when rimonabant and clozapine were given together. The findings suggest that blocking CB1 receptors may help restore disrupted interactions between the endocannabinoid and glutamate systems implicated in schizophrenia.