Schizophrenia-like endurable behavioral and neuroadaptive changes induced by ketamine administration involve Angiotensin II AT1receptor.
Behavioural Brain Research February 23, 2022 V. Occhieppo, O. Basmadjian, N. A. Marchese et al.
Blocking the AT1 receptor with candesartan prevented long-lasting schizophrenia-like behavioral changes and altered neuronal activation patterns caused by repeated ketamine administration in adult male rats. These effects involved the GABAergic system and parvalbumin-expressing interneurons in several brain regions. However, AT1 receptors were not involved in the acute psychotomimetic effects of a single ketamine dose. The findings suggest AT1 receptors play a key role in enduring alterations induced by repeated psychostimulant exposure and in the development of psychiatric conditions.