Phencyclidine-induced cognitive deficits in mice are improved by subsequent subchronic administration of the antibiotic drug minocycline

Abstract

Background The N-methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP)-induced cognitive deficits have been used as an animal model for schizophrenia. This study was undertaken to determine whether the antibiotic drug minocycline could improve PCP-induced cognitive deficits in mice. Methods Saline (10 ml/kg/day, s.c., once daily on day 1–5, 8–12) or PCP (10 mg/kg/day, s.c., once daily on day 1–5, 8–12) were administered to mice for 10 days. Subsequently, vehicle (10 ml/kg/day, i.p.) or minocycline (4.0 or 40 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was injected for 14 consecutive days. One day after the final injection, a novel object recognition test was performed. Results PCP-induced cognitive deficits in mice were significantly improved by subsequent subchronic (14 days) administration of minocycline (40 mg/kg), but not minocycline (4.0 mg/kg). Conclusions This study suggests that minocycline could be a potential therapeutic drug for cognitive deficits in schizophrenic patients.