Delayed changes in neural visinin-like calcium-binding protein gene expression caused by acute phencyclidine administration.

Phencyclidine (PCP) induces a psychotomimetic state that closely resembles schizophrenia, and PCP-treated animals can serve as a model for schizophrenia. The effects of PCP on the gene expression of NVP-1, a novel Ca(2+)-binding protein, were studied in rats. After 24 hours, the NVP-1 mRNA level in the nucleus accumbens showed a significant decrease of 42%. This result suggests that alterations in Ca(2+)-binding protein may be involved in the pathology of PCP-induced psychosis and, presumably, schizophrenia.