EFFECT OF NE-100, A NOVEL SIGMA-RECEPTOR LIGAND, ON PHENCYCLIDINE-INDUCED DELAYED COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN RATS

Phencyclidine (PCP), in a dose of 15 mg/kg, produced delayed cognitive dysfunction (at 24 h) in rats subjected to water maze tasks. At 24 h after PCP administration, ataxia, hyperlocomotion and stereotyped beha vior were not induced. NE-100, -2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl] -ethylamine monohydrochloride, a selective and potent sigma receptor l igand, was administered orally 10 min after PCP administration or 15 m in before the first trial (24 h after PCP administration). In both cas es, NE-100 dose-dependently attenuated the delayed cognitive dysfuncti on induced by PCP. As these findings show that ingestion of PCP led to delayed cognitive dysfunction similar to the cognitive signs of psych osis seen in humans, NE-100 is being further studied for possible trea tment of subjects with schizophrenia.