Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
January 1, 2023
Paula Unzueta-Larrinaga, Leyre Urigüen
1 citation
Prepulse inhibition of the startle response is a behavioral measure used to study sensorimotor gating deficits seen in schizophrenia. Hallucinogenic drugs that activate 5-HT2A receptors, such as psilocybin, LSD, and DOI, produce schizophrenia-like symptoms in healthy people and can model these behaviors in rodents. This protocol describes how to evaluate prepulse inhibition in male CD1-Swiss mice after a single dose of DOI.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
January 1, 2025
Samo Pirnat, Katja Fink, Matjaž Stenovec et al.
Ketamine, an antidepressant for major depressive disorder, alters the dynamics of the potassium channel Kir4.1 in astrocytes. Using cultured rat and mouse astrocytes, the authors tracked fluorescently labeled Kir4.1 vesicles and measured surface density and currents after ketamine exposure. The findings suggest that ketamine modulates Kir4.1 trafficking and activity, which could influence extracellular potassium levels and neuronal excitability. This mechanism may contribute to ketamine's therapeutic effects in depression, offering a cellular-level explanation for its rapid antidepressant action.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
January 1, 2024
David Scott, C Clinton Frazee, Uttam Garg
Phencyclidine (PCP), a dissociative anesthetic originally tested in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic, was discontinued for clinical use due to severe adverse effects. It is now a commonly abused recreational drug that induces hallucinations and alters perception. PCP can be detected in urine, serum, or plasma by immunoassays, and its presence is confirmed and quantified by gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The described method adds a deuterated internal standard, extracts the drug under alkaline conditions, and uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring for quantitation.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
January 1, 2018
Dan Ma, Paul C Guest
Nutrition during pregnancy can affect offspring behavior later in life. This paper describes a protocol for the hyperlocomotion test, which measures behavioral symptoms resembling psychosis or mania. The example uses rats given an acute injection of phencyclidine (PCP), which causes hyperlocomotion and stereotypic behaviors similar to positive symptoms of schizophrenia.