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Identifier

000419863

Title

Ο ρόλος του αναλόγου του νευροστεροειδούς δεϋδροεπιανδροστερόνη (DHEA) ΒΝΝ27 στη σχιζοφρένεια

Alternative Title

The role of the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative ΒΝΝ27 in schizophrenia

Author

Ζούπα, Έλλη

Thesis advisor

Πιτσίκας, Νικόλαος

Reviewer

Γραβάνης, Αχιλλέας
Παναγής, Γεώργιος

Abstract

Consistent experimental evidence suggests the involvement of neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in schizophrenia. BNN27 is a novel DHEA analogue, which devoid of steroidogenic activity and its neurotrophic effect has been observed. Its role, however, in schizophrenia has not yet been established. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the ability of BNN27 (3 and 6 mg/kg) to counteract schizophrenia-like behavioral deficits produced by ketamine in rats. For this purpose, the spontaneous behavior in the open field task, the novel object recognition task (NORT) and the social interaction (SI) test were used. The spontaneous behavior in open field task is an experimental model resembling the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. NORT assesses recognition memory, a type of memory impaired in schizophrenics, while SI is an experimental model resembling the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of BNN27 (3 and 6 mg/kg) reversed ketamine (10 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced hypermotility in open field. Also, BNN27 (6 mg/kg) attenuated head weaving and ataxia produced by ketamine. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of BNN27 (3 and 6 mg/kg) reversed ketamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced performance deficits in the NORT both at the acquisition and storage of memory. In addition, BNN27 (6 mg/kg, i.p.) seems to attenuate the social isolation caused by subchronic administration of ketamine (8 mg/kg, i.p.) in the SI test. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that BNN27 attenuated schizophrenia-like deficits in animal models which were induced by dysregulation of the glutamatergic system. The current findings, also, suggest that further studies should be carried out aiming to elucidate whether or not BNN27 might constitute a potential candidate for the treatment of this psychiatric disorder.

Language

Greek, English

Subject

Ketamine

RAT

Επιμύς

Κεταμίνη

Issue date

2018-12-05

Collection

School/Department--School of Medicine--Department of Medicine--Post-graduate theses

Type of Work--Post-graduate theses