Dysfunction in the hippocampus-prefrontal cortex (H-PFC) circuit is a critical determinant of schizophrenia. Screening of pyridazinone-risperidone hybrids on this circuit revealed EGIS 11150 (S 36549). EGIS 11150 induced theta rhythm in hippocampal slice preparations in the stratum lacunosum molecular area of CA1, which was resistant to atropine and prazosin. EGIS 11150 enhanced H-PFC coherence, and increased the 8−9 Hz theta band of the EEG power spectrum (from 0.002 mg/kg i.p, at >30× lower doses than clozapine, and >100× for olanzapine, risperidone, or haloperidol). EGIS 11150 fully blocked the effects of phencyclidine (PCP) or ketamine on EEG. Inhibition of long-term potentiation (LTP) in H-PFC was blocked by platform stress, but was fully restored by EGIS 11150 (0.01 mg/kg i.p.), whereas clozapine (0.3 mg/kg ip) only partially restored LTP. EGIS 11150 has a unique electrophysiological profile, so phenotypical screening on H-PFC connectivity can reveal novel antipsychotics.
The purine nucleoside adenosine is released during seizure activity and exerts an anticonvulsant influence through inhibition of glutamate release and hyperpolarization of neurons via adenosine A(1) receptors. However, activation of adenosine A(2A) and A(3) receptors may counteract the inhibitory effects of A(1) receptors. We have therefore examined the extent to which endogenous adenosine released during seizure activity activates the different adenosine receptor subtypes and the implications for seizure activity in the rat hippocampus in vitro. Brief trains of high-frequency stimulation in nominally Mg(2+)-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid evoked epileptiform activity and resulted in a transient depression of the simultaneously recorded CA1 field excitatory postsynaptic potential. In the presence of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT), an adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, the occurrence of spontaneous seizure activity was greatly increased as was the duration and intensity of evoked seizures, whilst the postictal depression of basal synaptic transmission was greatly attenuated. Application of ZM 241385, an adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist, shortened the duration of epileptiform activity, whereas administration of MRS 1191, an adenosine A(3) receptor antagonist, both decreased the duration and intensity of seizures. Combined application of the A(2A) and A(3) receptor antagonists also resulted in a reduction in seizure duration and intensity. However, no evidence was found for a role for protein kinase C in the regulation of seizure activity by endogenous adenosine. Our data confirm the dominant anticonvulsant role that endogenous and tonic adenosine play via the A(1) receptor, and suggest that the additional adenosine receptor subtypes may compromise this anticonvulsant property through promotion of seizure activity.
Abstract Adenosine is a powerful modulator of neuronal function in the mammalian central nervous system. During a variety of insults to the brain, adenosine is released in large quantities and exerts a neuroprotective influence largely via the A 1 receptor, which inhibits glutamate release and neuronal activity. Using novel enzyme‐based adenosine sensors, which allow high spatial and temporal resolution recordings of adenosine release in real time, we have investigated the release of adenosine during hypoxia/ischemia in the in vitro hippocampus. Our data reveal that during the early stages of hypoxia adenosine is likely released per se and not as a precursor such as cAMP or an adenine nucleotide. In addition, repeated hypoxia results in reduced production of extracellular adenosine and this may underlie the increased vulnerability of the mammalian brain to repetitive or secondary hypoxia/ischemia.