REVIEW OF NMDA RECEPTORS AND THE PHENCYCLIDINE MODEL OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Current models of drug-induced psychosis insufficiently describe the s ymptoms of schizophrenia. Pheneyclidine-induced psychosis is a model t hat more completely reflects the pathophysiology of the disease. By de creasing glutamatergic neurotransmission, phencyclidine decreases gamm a-aminobutyric acid release from the nucleus accumbens, striatum, and hippocampus (manifested by MK-801); may inhibit tonic release of dopam ine from the nucleus accumbens and striatum, resulting in increased do pamine phasic reactivity; and decreases long-term potentiation. Glutam atergic system dysfunction may be involved, but pharmacologic manipula tion has not revealed a clear mechanism of this dysfunction.