GLYCYLDODECYLAMIDE, A PHENCYCLIDINE BEHAVIORAL ANTAGONIST, BLOCKS CORTICAL GLYCINE UPTAKE - IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SUBSTANCE-ABUSE

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists induce psychotomimetic effects in humans that closely resemble negative and cognitive symptoms of sc hizophrenia. NMDA agonists, in contrast, may significantly ameliorate such symptoms. In rodents, phencyclidine (PCP) and other NMDA antagoni sts induce a hyperlocomotory syndrome that is reversed by NMDA agonist s. The present study investigates the mechanism of action of glycyldod ecylamide (GDA), a drug that is 80-fold more potent than glycine in re versing PCP-induced hyperactivity in rodents. At concentrations releva nt to its behavioral actions, GDA significantly inhibits forebrain gly cine uptake, indicating that glycine uptake inhibition may provide eff ective treatment for PCP psychosis and PCP psychosis-like symptoms of schizophrenia.