10-17 Use of PCP in animals and of ketamine in man has been claimed to be the most valid model for schizophrenia today.18 Drug-induced changes in EEG The effects of PCP were not well characterized in the RRG of animals, and so we set up an animal model of the RRG effects of PCP. We had previously characterized more than 50 drug-induced changes in
a model of RRG of prefrontal cortex, using the then somatosensori-motor region as a control for effects on motor functions.19,20 Chronically implanted EEG leads in the prefrontal cortex of conscious rats are used to obtain “fingerprints” of drug profiles over the range of 1 to 30 Hz19,20 by subtracting Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the control EEG from the EEG spectrum in the presence of the test drug 24 hours later. We reported that activation of noradrenergic and dopaminergic receptors causes a decrease in RRG power (desynchronization), whereas inhibition of these two systems increases REG power (synchronization).19,20 Decreases in EEG power in this model are induced by agents which increase vigilance, such as modafinil.19,20 Interestingly, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical nearly
all Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the antipsychotic agents that we tested (clozapine, haloperidol, and risperidone) increased theta/alphal power (peaks between 7 and 8 Hz),19-21 indicating an impact, on cortical processes in the prefrontal cortex, as theta rhythm is involved in memory processes and neuronal plasticity. We found that antipsychotic agents (haloperidone, chlorpromazine, risperidone, clozapine, and olanzepine) increased theta frequencies (about 8 Hz) in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the rat prefrontal cortex. Theta rhythm is 4 to 7 Hz in man and 3 to 12 in rats (usually 7±2 Hz), and is increased by movement, implying a role in motor function: the faster a rat runs, the faster the theta rhythm. Theta appears during rapid eye movement (RRM) sleep. Theta rhythm is used to Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical create a unit of cell assemblies, across the brain, in phase, working on a common problem. Thus, theta also has the capacity to separate assemblies that are working on
different problems. Thus, the fact, that antipsychotic agents increase the probability of theta rhythm in the prefrontal cortex indicates direct effects in cognitive processes. In contrast, while studying the effects of the propsychotic NMDA antagonist PCP, to our surprise, we found massive increases in RRG spectral power at low frequencies (<4 Hz) and a powerful reduction in power (desynchronization) at 6 to 30 Hz. The model was simple: implantation of transcortical electrodes in the prefrontal and sensorimotor cortices with analysis Cilengitide of RRG power spectra between 1 and 30 Hz over 3 hours. The effects of the vehicle, administered on the first day, was subtracted from the effects of the drugs, administered on the second day, allowing an RRG power spectrum of the effects of the drugs. The results were published by Sebban et al21 in 2001, and are summarized here: The EEG effects of the propsychotic agent PCP showed that PCP (0.1-3 mg.kg-1, subcutaneous) (Figure 2.