Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are trophic factors, widely distributed in the adult brain, whose expression can be modulated by psychoactive drugs. Administration of the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine resulted in a marked elevation of FGF-2 and BDNF mRNA levels in the rat hippocampus, but only under conditions of reduced NMDA receptor activity. These effects were drug-specific, given that they were not observed with the conventional antipsychotic haloperidol; and anatomically defined, since no similar effect was observed in striatum, prefrontal or frontal cortex. These results suggest that quetiapine may promote neuroplasticity via the up-regulation of neurotrophic factors when NMDA-mediated transmission is perturbed.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
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Brain / anatomy & histology
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Brain / drug effects
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Brain / metabolism
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism*
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Dibenzothiazepines / pharmacology*
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Dizocilpine Maleate / pharmacology*
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Drug Interactions
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology*
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / genetics
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
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Genes, fos / physiology
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Hippocampus / drug effects*
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Hippocampus / metabolism
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Male
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Quetiapine Fumarate
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Substances
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Antipsychotic Agents
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Dibenzothiazepines
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
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RNA, Messenger
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
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Quetiapine Fumarate
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Dizocilpine Maleate