Open AccessNovel, non-nitrocatechol catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors modulate dopamine neurotransmission in the frontal cortex and improve cognitive flexibility
Author(s) -
Spencer Byers,
Ingrid P. Buchler,
Michael DePasquale,
Helen L. Rowley,
Rajiv Kulkarni,
Lucy Pinder,
Anna Kolobova,
Cailian Li,
Vinh Au,
Daniel Akuma,
Gongliang Zhang,
Huijun Wei,
Sharon C. Cheetham,
James C. Barrow,
Gregory V. Carr
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
psychopharmacology/psychopharmacologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1432-2072
pISSN - 0033-3158
DOI - 10.1007/s00213-020-05566-0
Subject(s) - catechol o methyl transferase , homovanillic acid , dopamine , dopaminergic , pharmacology , psychology , neuroscience , cognitive flexibility , chemistry , cognition , medicine , serotonin , biochemistry , allele , receptor , gene
Cognitive impairment is a primary feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders and there is a need for new therapeutic options. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors modulate cortical dopaminergic function and have been proposed as potential cognitive enhancers. Unfortunately, currently available COMT inhibitors are not good candidates due to either poor blood-brain barrier penetration or severe toxicity.