Phencyclidine-Induced Cognitive Deficits in Mice Are Improved by Subsequent Subchronic Administration of the Novel Selective α7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonist SSR180711

Background Accumulating evidence suggests that α7 nicotinic receptor (α7 nAChR) agonists could be potential therapeutic drugs for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of the novel selective α7 nAChR agonist SSR180711 on cognitive deficits in mice after repeated administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP). Methods Saline or PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 10 days) was administered to mice. Subsequently, vehicle, SSR180711 (.3 or 3.0 mg/kg/day), SSR180711 (3.0 mg/kg/day) + the selective α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA; 3.0 mg/kg/day), or MLA (3.0 mg/kg/day) was administered IP for 2 consecutive weeks. Twenty-four hours after the final administration, a novel object recognition test was performed. Results The PCP-induced cognitive deficits were significantly improved by subsequent subchronic (2-week) administration of SSR180711 (3.0 mg/kg). The effects of SSR180711 (3.0 mg/kg) were significantly antagonized by co-administration of MLA (3.0 mg/kg). Furthermore, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed that levels of α7 nAChRs in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 10 days)-treated mice were significantly lower than those of saline-treated mice. Conclusions These findings suggest that repeated PCP administration significantly decreased the density of α7 nAChRs in the brain and that the α7 nAChR agonist SSR180711 could ameliorate cognitive deficits in mice after repeated administration of PCP. Therefore, α7 nAChR agonists including SSR180711 are potential therapeutic drugs for treating cognitive deficits in schizophrenic patients.