In vivo pharmacological characterization of TAK-063, a potent and selective phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitor with antipsychotic-like activity in rodents

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is a cAMP/cGMP phosphodiesterase highly expressed in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum. We evaluated the in vivo pharmacological profile of a potent and selective PDE10A inhibitor, TAK-063 (1-[2-fluoro-4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]-5-methoxy-3-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-pyridazin-4(1H)-one). TAK-063 at 0.3 and 1 mg/kg p.o., increased cAMP and cGMP levels in the rodent striatum and upregulated phosphorylation levels of key substrates of cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases. TAK-063 at 0.3 and 1 mg/kg p.o., strongly suppressed MK-801 [(5R,10S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine]-induced hyperlocomotion, which is often used as a predictive model for antipsychotic-like activity in rodents. Upregulation of striatal cAMP/cGMP levels and the antipsychotic-like effect of TAK-063 were not attenuated after 15 days of pretreatment with TAK-063 in mice. The potential side effect profile of TAK-063 was assessed in rats using the clinical antipsychotics haloperidol, olanzapine, and aripiprazole as controls. TAK-063 did not affect plasma Prolactin or glucose levels at doses up to 3 mg/kg p.o. At 3 mg/kg p.o., TAK-063 elicited a weak cataleptic response compared with haloperidol and olanzapine. Evaluation of pathway-specific markers (substance P mRNA for the direct pathway and enkephalin mRNA for the indirect pathway) revealed that TAK-063 activated both the direct and indirect pathways of MSNs. These findings suggest that TAK-063 represents a promising drug for the treatment of schizophrenia with potential for superior safety and tolerability profiles.