U.S. scientists say a recently discovered small protein in the brain may represent a target for the treatment of schizophrenia.
The protein -- neuropeptide S, or NPS -- was discovered by Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor Rainer Reinscheid of the University of California-Irvine. He found NPS is produced by a small cluster of cells in the brainstem, yet its specialized receptors are found in several areas of the brain.
Reinscheid and colleagues reported finding the new neuropeptide last year. Now Reinscheid's group says it has determined NPS can reduce the biochemical and behavioral symptoms of schizophrenia in an established animal model.
Animals pretreated with NPS before receiving a drug that normally induces psychotic-like behaviors reportedly did not develop the signature behavioral symptoms and neurochemical features of schizophrenia.
"Whether molecules activating the NPS system will prove to be better drugs than others used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia remains to be seen," said Reinscheid. "We still have a very long way to go before proving it can alleviate symptoms in humans as we've seen it do in rodents."
The findings were presented this week in Pittsburgh during the 6th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Related stories:
Traumatic response to bad memories can be minimized
(PhysOrg.com) -- UC Irvine researchers have identified the brain mechanism that switches off traumatic feelings associated with bad memories, a finding that could lead to the development of drugs to treat panic disorders.
Protein's tail may be flu virus's achilles heel
Striking new research from Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) has revealed a potential new target that drug makers can use to attack several strains of influenza, including those that cause bird flu as well as the common variety that infects millions each flu season.
Cancer drug delivery research cuts time from days to hours
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a technique that has the potential to deliver cancer-fighting drugs to diseased areas within hours, as opposed to the two days it currently takes for existing delivery systems.
Juniper and Microsoft Hook Up for NAC Work
Juniper Networks jumped into the NAC lovefest at Interop on May 21, announcing that it's working to get its Unified Access Control NAC server to interoperate with Microsoft's Network Access Protection standard.
Michigan State research sheds new light on health dangers of nanoparticles
The nose, usually the first line of defense against inhaled airborne particles that could damage the lungs, may itself be susceptible to the dangers of extremely small particles, called nanoparticles, which are less than 100 nanometers in size. One nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.