Sodium Nitroprusside is Effective in Preventing And/or Reversing the Development of Schizophrenia-related Behaviors in an Animal Model: The SHR Strain

Overview

Journal CNS Neurosci Ther

Specialties Neurology
Pharmacology

Date 2018 Apr 16

PMID 29656549

Citations 8

Authors

Mariana C Diana

Fernanda F Peres

Veronica Justi

Rodrigo A Bressan

Acioly L T Lacerda

Jose Alexandre Crippa

Jaime E C Hallak

Vanesssa Costhek Abilio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aims: The treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotics is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, the search for new treatments and prevention is crucial, and animal models are fundamental tools for this objective. Preclinical and clinical data evidence the antipsychotic profile of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. We aimed to investigate SNP in treating and/or preventing the schizophrenia-related behaviors presented by the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) strain.

Methods: Wistar rats (WR) and SHRs were submitted to two schemes of treatment: (i) a single injection of SNP or vehicle in adulthood; (ii) a long-term early treatment from 30 to 60 postnatal day with SNP or vehicle. The following behaviors were evaluated 24 hours after the acute treatment or 30 days after the long-term treatment: locomotion, social interaction, and contextual fear conditioning.

Results: Spontaneously hypertensive rats presented hyperlocomotion, decreased social interaction, and impaired contextual fear conditioning. Single injection of SNP decreased social interaction in both strains and induced a deficit in contextual fear conditioning in WR. Oppositely, early treatment with SNP prevented the behavioral abnormalities in adult SHRs without promoting any effects in WR.

Conclusion: Our preclinical data point to SNP as a preventive and safe strategy with a broad range of effectiveness to the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Citing Articles

An Investigation of the Sodium Nitroprusside Effects on Serum Lipids in an Animal Model of Schizophrenia by the Magnetic Resonance Study.

Pontes J, Nani J, Correia B, Carneiro Costa T, Stanisic D, Hayashi M ACS Omega. 2024; 9(49):48480-48487.

PMID: 39676991 PMC: 11635526. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c07072.

The efficacy and safety of sodium nitroprusside in the treatment of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis.

Fei X, Li J, Wang S, Wang J, Guo C, Qisha R Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1271624.

PMID: 38025431 PMC: 10657871. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1271624.

Targeting neuronal nitric oxide synthase and the nitrergic system in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sadeghi M, Hemmati S, Nassireslami E, Zoshk M, Hosseini Y, Abbasian K Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2022; 239(10):3057-3082.

PMID: 36029333 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06212-7.

Treatments for Social Interaction Impairment in Animal Models of Schizophrenia: A Critical Review and Meta-analysis.

Hazani R, Lavidor M, Weller A Schizophr Bull. 2022; 48(6):1179-1193.

PMID: 35925025 PMC: 9673263. DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbac093.

The Nitric Oxide (NO) Donor Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) and Its Potential for the Schizophrenia Therapy: Lights and Shadows.

Zoupa E, Pitsikas N Molecules. 2021; 26(11).

PMID: 34073534 PMC: 8199342. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113196.

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