A Review of NMDA Receptors and the Phencyclidine Model of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Current models of drug‐induced psychosis insufficiently describe the symptoms of schizophrenia. Phencyclidine‐induced psychosis is a model that more completely reflects the pathophysiology of the disease. By decreasing glutamatergic neurotransmission, phencyclidine decreases 7‐aminobutyric acid release from the nucleus accumbens, striatum, and hippocampus (manifested by MK‐801); may inhibit tonic release of dopamine from the nucleus accumbens and striatum, resulting in increased dopamine phasic reactivity; and decreases long‐term potentiation. Glutamatergic system dysfunction may be involved, but pharmacologic manipulation has not revealed a clear mechanism of this dysfunction.