The effects of a 5-HT sub(5A) receptor antagonist in a ketamine-based rat model of cognitive dysfunction and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Serotonin (5-HT) receptors still represent promising targets for the development of novel multireceptor or stand-alone antipsychotic drugs with a potential to ameliorate cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The 5-HT sub(5A) receptor, one of the least known members of the serotonin receptor family, has also drawn attention in this regard. Although the antipsychotic efficacy of 5-HT sub(5A) antagonists is still equivocal, recent experimental data suggest the cognitive-enhancing activity of this strategy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate pro-cognitive and pro-social efficacies of the 5-HT sub(5A) receptor antagonist in a rat pharmacological model of schizophrenia employing the administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine. The ability of SB-699551 to reverse ketamine-induced cognitive deficits in the attentional set-shifting task (ASST) and novel object recognition task (NORT) was examined. The compound's efficacy against ketamine-induced social withdrawal was assessed in the social interaction test (SIT) and in the social choice test (SCT). The results demonstrated the efficacy of SB-699551 in ameliorating ketamine-induced impairments on the ASST and NORT. Moreover, the tested compound also enhanced set-shifting performance in cognitively unimpaired control rats and improved object recognition memory in conditions of delay-induced natural forgetting. The pro-social activity of SB-699551 was demonstrated on both employed paradigms, the SIT and SCT. The present study suggests the preclinical efficacy of a strategy based on the blockade of 5-HT sub(5A) receptors against schizophrenia-like cognitive deficits and negative symptoms. The utility of this receptor as a target for improvement of cognitive and social dysfunctions warrants further studies.