Abstract

Although the etiology of drug psychosis or schizophrenia is still unknown, molecular and biochemical researches have recently made significant advances in the search for the candidate genes of these disorders. Among such studies are animal models of drug psychosis or schizophrenia such as amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization or phencyclidine-treated animals. In this review, it is suggested that amphetamine or phencyclidine change the gene expressions related to not only neurotransmistter systems such as dopamine or glutamic acid, transcription factors, cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell adhesion, but also the synapse. These alterable gene expressions may lead to the discovery of candidate genes of drug psychosis or schizophrenia and thus to novel antipsychotics.

Keywords: Amphetamine, Phencyclidine, amphetamine-like psychostimulant