Biological psychiatry
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Biological psychiatry · Jun 2009
Co-administration of a D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor potentiates the efficacy of D-serine in attenuating prepulse inhibition deficits after administration of dizocilpine.
D-Serine, an endogenous agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, is effective in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, orally administered D-serine is metabolized substantially by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO), diminishing its oral bioavailability. In this study, we examined the effects of oral D-serine administration with or without a DAAO inhibitor, 5-chloro-benzo[d]isoxazol-3-ol (CBIO), on the prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits after administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine. ⋯ These findings suggest that coadministration of CBIO significantly enhanced the efficacy of D-serine in attenuating PPI deficits by administration of dizocilpine. Therefore, coadministration of D-serine and a DAAO inhibitor has therapeutic potential for the treatment of schizophrenia.
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Biological psychiatry · Jun 2009
Blood-based microcirculation markers in Alzheimer's disease-diagnostic value of midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide/C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment ratio.
There is evidence that vascular factors contribute substantially to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have developed assays to reliably detect the circulation and microcirculation regulating factors C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment (CT-proET-1), midregional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), and midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP). We hypothesized that this set of blood-based (micro)circulation parameters is altered in AD. ⋯ This indicates altered expression of microcirculation parameters and supports the hypothesis of a disturbed microvascular homeostasis in AD. We generated the hypothesis that the vasodilator/vasoconstrictor ratios hold promise as a diagnostic marker of AD. The best diagnostic accuracy was achieved for the MR-proANP/CT-proET-1 ratio.