Estudo dos efeitos da sinvastatina em modelo animal de esquizofrenia induzido por quetamina

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a severe and disabling mental disorder. Although antipsychotics are effective for many patients, an important proportion of these are refractory to treatment. Thus, the importance of research to improve the clinical results of schizophrenia is emphasized. Statins, a class of drugs that inhibit the enzyme 3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, are proposed for the treatment of several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, however, data on the latter are still controversial. Thus, the objective of this work was to investigate the effects of simvastatin and the association of low doses of the atippsychotic olanzapine and simvastatin in an animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine. 10-week-old male Balb/C mice were used. Animals received vehicle, simvastatin, olanzapine or subdose of olanzapine + simvastatin for 14 days. From the 8th day, treatment with ketamine or saline solution was started. After this period, the animals were submitted to the open field and Y-maze tests. The behavior results showed no significant difference between the groups. It is possible that the dose of ketamine used was insufficient to induce schizophrenia-related behaviors. Additionally, in the Y-maze test, the animals in the control group showed a significantly lower percentage of correct alternation than expected, which probably prevented the induction of alteration by ketamine. It is concluded that more studies need to be conducted to evaluate the effect of simvastatin in animal models of schizophrenia to assess its effect on schizophreniarelated behaviors, as well as the possible pathways involved.