Abstract
This is a review on the recent results of research on sigma1-receptor antagonists. NE-100, a selective sigma1 receptor antagonist, shows improvement of abnormal behaviors and cognitive dysfunction induced by phencyclidine (PCP). However, NE-100 does not inhibit dopamine agonist-induced behaviors nor induces catalepsy. The mode of action of NE-100 is estimated to be the indirect modulation of the NMDA/PCP-receptor ion channel complex and the modulation of dopamine release from the dopaminergic nerve terminals. The recently reported MS-355/MS-377, which is also a selective sigma1-receptor antagonist, has a similar pharmacological profiles as NE-100, but in addition, MS-355/MS-377 inhibits methamphetamine induced formation of reversal tolerance and also inhibits apomorphine-induced climbing behavior like dopamine D2-receptor antagonists. The report on clinical trial targeting schizophrenia shows results on rimcazole, remoxipride, BMY 14802, panamesine (EMD 57445) and SL 82.0715. Rimcazole was effective in the open study, but the double blind trial was discontinued due to seizure induction. Remoxipride showed efficacy different from those of dopamine D2-receptor antagonists (less extrapyramidal adverse effects), but the trial was discontinued due to occurrence of aplastic anemia. Panamesine and SL 82.0714 showed favorable efficacy in the open studies, but BMY 14802 showed no efficacy in clinical trials.
