Behavioral and neurochemical studies of schizophrenia using an animal model of the phychosis.

甲基苯丙胺的重复给药导致人类精神分裂症样精神病和动物行为敏化。行为敏感化的研究有助于理解甲基苯丙胺所致精神病和精神分裂症的发病机制：1）在小笼中反复给予甲基苯丙胺的大鼠，其自发活动没有增强，但刻板行为增强，表明环境改变了行为敏感化的表达; 2）东莨菪碱，一种毒蕈碱胆碱能受体的拮抗剂，阻止了行为敏感化。中枢胆碱能受体可能在行为敏化的发生中起作用。3）氯硝西泮是中枢GABA-苯二氮卓类受体激动剂，可防止行为敏化。中枢GABA神经传递似乎在行为敏感化的发展中起作用，这些结果与谷氨酸拮抗剂和蛋白质合成抑制剂也能阻止敏感化的报道相结合，可能表明行为敏感化与其他神经可塑性变化如学习记忆具有某些共同的性质。

Repeated administration of methamphetamine results in schizophrenia-like phychosis in human and behavioral sensitization in animals. Understanding of behavioral sensitization may provide insight into the pathogenesis of both methamphetamine-induced phychosis and schizophrenia.1) Rats repeatedly received methamphetamine in a small cage did not show enhancement in locomotoer activity but showed enhancement in stereotyped behavior, suggesting that environment modifies the expression of behavioral sensitization.2) Scopolamine, an antagonist of muscarinic cholinergic receptors, prevented behavioral sensitization. Central cholinergic receptors seem to play a role in the development of behavioral sensitization.3) Clonazepam, and agonist of central GABA-benzodiazepine receptors, prevented behavioral sensitization. Central GABA neurotransmission seems to play a role in the development of behavioral sensitization.These results, taken together with the reports showing glutamate antagonists and protein synthesis inhibitors also prevent sensitization, may indicate that behavioral sensitization have some common properties with other neural plastic change such as learning and memory.