N-acetylcysteine prevents increased amphetamine sensitivity in social isolation-reared mice

Ana P Herrmann; Radharani Benvenutti; Luísa K Pilz; Elaine Elisabetsky

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2014.03.012

N-acetylcysteine prevents increased amphetamine sensitivity in social isolation-reared mice

Schizophr Res. 2014 May;155(1-3):109-11. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.03.012. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Authors

Ana P Herrmann¹, Radharani Benvenutti², Luísa K Pilz³, Elaine Elisabetsky³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratório de Etnofarmacologia, Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul., Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul., Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: anaherrmann@gmail.com.
² Laboratório de Etnofarmacologia, Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul., Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
³ Laboratório de Etnofarmacologia, Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul., Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul., Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

PMID: 24725851
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.03.012

Abstract

Treating individuals at risk to develop schizophrenia may be strategic to delay or prevent transition to psychosis. We verified the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. C57 mice were reared in isolation or social groups and treated with NAC from postnatal day 42-70; the locomotor response to amphetamine was assessed at postnatal day 81. NAC treatment in isolated mice prevented the hypersensitivity to amphetamine, suggesting neuroprotection relevant to striatal dopamine. Considering its safety and tolerability profile, complementary studies are warranted to further evaluate the usefulness of NAC to prevent conversion to schizophrenia in at-risk individuals.

Keywords: Early intervention; High risk subjects; N-acetylcysteine; Schizophrenia; Social isolation rearing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
Acetylcysteine / therapeutic use*
Amphetamine / adverse effects*
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Central Nervous System / drug effects
Central Nervous System Stimulants / adverse effects*
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
Free Radical Scavengers / therapeutic use*
Hyperkinesis / chemically induced*
Hyperkinesis / prevention & control*
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Social Isolation / psychology*

Substances

Central Nervous System Stimulants
Free Radical Scavengers
Amphetamine
Acetylcysteine