TY - JOUR
T1 - The MCPP challenge test in schizophrenia
T2 - Hormonal and behavioral responses
AU - Iqbal, Naveed
AU - Asnis, Gregory M.
AU - Wetzler, Scott
AU - Kahn, Rene S.
AU - Kay, Stanley R.
AU - van Praag, Herman M.
PY - 1991/10/15
Y1 - 1991/10/15
N2 - In a neuroendocrine challenge paradigm, the present study investigated responses of schizophrenic patients to m-chlorophenylpiperazine (MCPP), a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) agonists. In an oral dose of 0.25 mg/kg, MCPP was administered in a placebo-controlled double-blind design to male schizophrenic patients (n = 7) and normal male controls (n = 8). Behavioral (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; PANSS) and hormonal (cortisol, prolactin) variables were measured over the subsequent 210 min. The schizophrenic patients experienced an overall exacerbation of psychopathology on MCPP as compared with placebo (p < 0.05), with specific worsening of PANSS-positive symptoms (p < 0.025) and PANSS activation (p < 0.001). In addition, the schizophrenic patients showed significantly lower cortisol (p < 0.05) and prolactin (p < 0.05) responses than the normal subjects. The schizophrenic patients had lower peak MCPP blood levels than the normal subjects, although this difference was not statistically significant. The findings are discussed in terms of 5HT receptor(s) sensitivity and the pharmacokinetics of MCPP in schizophrenia.
AB - In a neuroendocrine challenge paradigm, the present study investigated responses of schizophrenic patients to m-chlorophenylpiperazine (MCPP), a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) agonists. In an oral dose of 0.25 mg/kg, MCPP was administered in a placebo-controlled double-blind design to male schizophrenic patients (n = 7) and normal male controls (n = 8). Behavioral (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; PANSS) and hormonal (cortisol, prolactin) variables were measured over the subsequent 210 min. The schizophrenic patients experienced an overall exacerbation of psychopathology on MCPP as compared with placebo (p < 0.05), with specific worsening of PANSS-positive symptoms (p < 0.025) and PANSS activation (p < 0.001). In addition, the schizophrenic patients showed significantly lower cortisol (p < 0.05) and prolactin (p < 0.05) responses than the normal subjects. The schizophrenic patients had lower peak MCPP blood levels than the normal subjects, although this difference was not statistically significant. The findings are discussed in terms of 5HT receptor(s) sensitivity and the pharmacokinetics of MCPP in schizophrenia.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026048271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0006-3223(91)90233-C
DO - 10.1016/0006-3223(91)90233-C
M3 - Article
C2 - 1751620
AN - SCOPUS:0026048271
SN - 0006-3223
VL - 30
SP - 770
EP - 778
JO - Biological Psychiatry
JF - Biological Psychiatry
IS - 8
ER -