Abstract
For decades treatment of schizophrenia was restricted to drugs, which mainly target positive symptoms by interfering with the dopaminergic neurotransmission. Since a large body of experimental and clinical data implicate that schizophrenia may primarily be a consequence of an imbalance in the glutamatergic system, specifically the networks containing GABAergic interneurons (γ-amino butyric acid), new drugs modulating glutamatergic neurotransmission are being developed. Targeting this dysfunction may follow different strategies, including application of direct or indirect NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor agonists or drugs modulating the function of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Meanwhile, the first substances have proven to be effective in animal models of schizophrenia and now enter the stage of clinical trials. The most promising data have been obtained in studies employing agonists of the metabotropic glutamate receptor. A choice of these substances is presented in this review.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.