Chronic psychotropic drug treatment causes differential expression of Reelin signaling system in frontal cortex of rats

Schizophr Res. 2009 Jun;111(1-3):138-52. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.03.002. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Abstract

Disruption of the Reelin and GABAergic signaling systems have been observed in psychiatric disorders including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Less is known of therapeutic interventions that may help ameliorate the effects of these disruptions. The current study investigated whether chronic administration of psychotropic medications (clozapine, fluoxetine, haloperidol, lithium, olanzapine, and valproic acid) used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders alters levels of Reelin, its receptor Vldlr, downstream molecules Gsk3 beta, Dab-1, and Gad65/67 in rat prefrontal cortex as measured by qRT-PCR and SDS-PAGE and western blotting. qRT-PCR revealed that mRNAs for Reelin, Vldlr, Dab-1, Gsk3 beta, and Gad65 were each significantly altered by at least one of the drugs tested, and in the case of Reelin, Dab-1, and Gsk3 beta, by multiple drugs. To verify our results, we also performed SDS-PAGE and western blotting experiments. Again, several of the protein products for Reelin, Vldlr, Dab-1, Gsk3 beta, Gad65, and Gad67 were also significantly altered by multiple drugs. The present results suggest that the Reelin signaling and GABAergic systems are affected by commonly used psychotropic medications. These changes may help explain the efficacy of these drugs and provide further support for the investigation of the Reelin and GABAergic signaling systems as therapeutic targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
  • Frontal Lobe / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / genetics
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Male
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Psychotropic Drugs / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, LDL / genetics
  • Receptors, LDL / metabolism
  • Reelin Protein
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Dab1 protein, rat
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, LDL
  • Reelin Protein
  • Reln protein, rat
  • VLDL receptor
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • glutamate decarboxylase 2