Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2012 Aug;10(2):94-98.

Effects of the Antioxidant Sulforaphane on Hyperlocomotion and Prepulse Inhibition Deficits in Mice after Phencyclidine Administration

• Shirai Y
• Fujita Y
• Hashimoto

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and that the potent antioxidants may be potential therapeutic drugs for schizophrenia. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of the potent antioxidant sulforaphane (SFN), found in cruciferous vegetables, on behavioral abnormalities (e.g., hyperlocomotion and prepulse inhibition [PPI] deficits) in mice after a single administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP).
METHODS
Effects of SFN (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) on hyperlocomotion and PPI deficits in the adult male ddY mice after administration of PCP (3.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously [s.c.]) were examined.
RESULTS
Administration of SFN (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]), but not low doses (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.), significantly attenuated hyperlocomotion in mice after PCP administration (3.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously [s.c.]). Furthermore, administration of SFN (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated the PPI deficits in mice after PCP administration (3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) in a dose-dependent manner.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that SFN has antipsychotic activity in an animal model of schizophrenia. Therefore, it is likely that SFN may be a potential therapeutic drug for schizophrenia.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Phencyclidine; Prepulse inhibition; Sulforaphane; Antioxidants; Nrf2 activator

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Antioxidants
Humans
Male
Mice
Models, Animal
N-Methylaspartate
Oxidative Stress
Phencyclidine
Schizophrenia
Thiocyanates
Vegetables
Antioxidants
N-Methylaspartate
Phencyclidine
Thiocyanates