Relationship between glycine transporter 1 inhibition as measured with positron emission tomography and changes in cognitive performances in nonhuman primates

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014 Nov;39(12):2742-9. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.4. Epub 2014 Feb 3.

Abstract

Several lines of evidence suggest that schizophrenia is associated with deficits in glutamatergic transmission at the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Glycine is a NMDA receptor co-agonist, and extracellular levels of glycine are regulated in the forebrain by the glycine type-1 transporters (GlyT-1). GlyT-1 inhibitors elevate extracellular glycine and thus potentiate NMDA transmission. This mechanism represents a promising new avenue for the treatment of schizophrenia. Here, the recently introduced positron emission tomography radiotracer [11C]GSK931145 was used to quantify the relationship between occupancy of GlyT-1 by a GlyT-1 inhibitor, Org 25935, and its impact on spatial working memory performances in rhesus monkeys. The effect of Org 25935 on working memory was assessed both in control conditions and during a state of relative NMDA hypofunction induced by ketamine administration, at a dose selected for each animal to reduce task performance by about 50%. Under control conditions, Org 25935 had no effect on working memory at GlyT-1 occupancies lower than 75% and significantly impaired working memory at occupancies higher than 75%. Under ketamine conditions, Org 25935 reversed the deficit in working memory induced by ketamine and did so optimally in the 40-70% GlyT-1 occupancy range. The results confirm the efficacy of this mechanism to correct working memory deficits associated with NMDA hypofunction. These data also suggest the existence of an inverted-U dose-response curve in the potential therapeutic effect of this class of compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzamides
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Central Nervous System Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Central Nervous System Agents / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Ketamine / pharmacology
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
  • N-Methylaspartate / metabolism
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Spatial Memory / drug effects
  • Spatial Memory / physiology*
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / pharmacokinetics
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Central Nervous System Agents
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • GSK 931145
  • Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • N-methyl-N-(6-methoxy-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ylmethyl)aminomethylcarboxylic acid
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes
  • N-Methylaspartate
  • Ketamine