DELAYED CHANGES IN NEURAL VISININ-LIKE CALCIUM-BINDING PROTEIN GENE-EXPRESSION CAUSED BY ACUTE PHENCYCLIDINE ADMINISTRATION

Phencyclidine (PCP) induces a psychotomimetic state that closely resem bles schizophrenia, and PCP-treated animals can serve as a model for s chizophrenia. The effects of PCP on the gene expression of NVP-1, a no vel Ca2+-binding protein, were studied in rats. After 24 hours, the NV P-1 mRNA level in the nucleus accumbens showed a significant decrease of 42%. This result suggests that alterations in Ca2+-binding protein may be involved in the pathology of PCP-induced psychosis and, presuma bly, schizophrenia.