Exp Neurobiol.  2016 Dec;25(6):328-332. 10.5607/en.2016.25.6.328.

Neonatal Administration of Memantine Enhances Social Cognition in Adult Rats Subjected to Early Maternal Deprivation

• Uribe E
• Sánchez-Mendoza E
• Nieves N
• Merchor G

• KMID: 2362829
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2016.25.6.328

Abstract

Schizophrenia is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder; however, all the available treatment options are used when the disease becomes clinically significant in adolescence or early adulthood. Using a developmental rat model of schizophrenia, we examined whether neonatal treatment with memantine, an NMDA receptor modulator, can improve schizophrenic-like symptoms in adulthood. Early maternal deprivation in rats produces deficits in social interaction behaviors in adulthood. In contrast, memantine administrated in neonatal rats subjected to early maternal deprivation significantly reduces deficits in social interaction behaviors in adulthood. These results raise the possibility that pharmacological treatment with memantine at the early developmental stage helps people with a risk to develop schizophrenic-like symptoms.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; neuropharmacology; developing brain; glutamate; social cognition; neonatal

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult*
Animals
Cognition*
Glutamic Acid
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Maternal Deprivation*
Memantine*
Models, Animal
N-Methylaspartate
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neuropharmacology
Rats*
Schizophrenia
Glutamic Acid
Memantine
N-Methylaspartate