Identification of Developmentally Regulated PCP-Responsive Non-Coding RNA, prt6, in the Rat Thalamus
PLoS One June 2, 2014 Hironao Takebayashi, N. Yamamoto, A. Umino et al.
A newly identified non-coding RNA transcript, prt6, from the rat thalamus may be involved in the onset of schizophrenia-like symptoms induced by NMDA receptor antagonists such as phencyclidine (PCP). prt6 contains sequences for microRNAs miR132 and miR212 and is strongly expressed in the brain and testis. PCP administration (7.5 mg/kg) significantly elevated prt6 mRNA in the thalamus at postnatal days 32 and 50 but not at earlier ages (8, 13, 20, or 24 days). Another NMDA antagonist, dizocilpine, and the dopamine agonist methamphetamine also increased prt6 levels, while the antipsychotic haloperidol partly blocked PCP's effect. These findings suggest prt6 may contribute to drug-induced psychosis and schizophrenia through dysregulation of target genes.