N-acetylcysteine during critical neurodevelopmental periods prevents behavioral and neurochemical deficits in the Poly I:C rat model of schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: Schizophrenia is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder with an inflammatory/prooxidant component. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been evaluated in schizophrenia as an adjuvant to antipsychotics, but its role as a preventive strategy has not been sufficiently explored. We aimed to evaluate the potential of NAC administration in two-time windows before the onset of symptoms in a schizophrenia-like maternal immune stimulation (MIS) rat model. Pregnant Wistar rats were injected with Poly I:C or Saline on gestational day (GD) 15. Three different preventive approaches were evaluated: 1) NAC treatment during periadolescence in the offspring (from postnatal day [PND] 35 to 49); 2) NAC treatment during pregnancy after MIS challenge until delivery (GD15-21); and 3) NAC treatment throughout all pregnancy

SUBMITTER: Romero-Miguel D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10774365 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature