Selective adrenergic alpha2C receptor antagonist ameliorates acute phencyclidine-induced schizophrenia-like social interaction deficits in rats
Psychopharmacology April 1, 2019 Katja Savolainen, Jouni Ihalainen, Aaro J. Jalkanen et al. 13 citations
Social withdrawal is a core negative symptom of schizophrenia with limited treatment options. In male Wistar rats, acute phencyclidine (PCP) produced robust social interaction deficits without affecting locomotion. A selective α₂C adrenergic receptor antagonist (ORM-13070) significantly reversed these deficits. In contrast, an α₇ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist (EVP-6124) and three atypical antipsychotics (clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine) failed to reverse the behavioral deficits at the doses tested. These findings suggest that α₂C receptor antagonism is a potential mechanism for treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia.