The metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptor agonists LY354740 and LY379268 selectively attenuate phencyclidine versus d-amphetamine motor behaviors in rats.

Previous animal studies have indicated that drugs targeted at metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors may be useful for treatment of psychosis. In this article, the effects of the novel, potent, and selective mGlu2/3 receptor agonists LY354740 and LY379268, and the clinically effective agents clozapine and haloperidol, were investigated using phencyclidine (PCP; 5 mg/kg)- versus d-amphetamine (AMP; 3 mg/kg)-evoked motor activities. LY354740 (1-10 mg/kg s.c.), LY379268 (0.3-3 mg/kg s.c.), clozapine (1-10 mg/kg s.c.), and haloperidol (0.03-1 mg/kg s.c.) reversed the increases in ambulations, fine motor (nonambulatory) movements, and decreased time at rest evoked by PCP. Furthermore, the inhibitions of the PCP response by the mGlu2/3 agonist LY379268, but not by clozapine, were completely reversed by the selective mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist LY341495. Doses of LY354740 and LY379268 that blocked the effects on PCP had no effects on rotorod performance, and (with the exception of rearing behavior) had minimal effects on AMP-evoked motor activities. Clozapine blocked AMP-induced rearing but enhanced AMP-induced ambulations and fine movements at the lower doses (1 and 3 mg/kg). Unlike the mGlu2/3 agonists, the highest dose of clozapine tested (10 mg/kg) impaired animals on the rotorod. Haloperidol potently blocked all PCP and AMP effects, but only at doses associated with motor impairment. These data demonstrate that mGlu2/3 receptor agonists act via a unique mechanism to selectively block PCP-induced behaviors. Moreover, the marked mGlu2/3 receptor-mediated inhibitions of PCP-evoked behaviors by LY354740 and LY379268, with minimal effects on AMP, may indicate potential antipsychotic effects in humans in the absence of dopamine mediated extrapyramidal side effects.