Prenatal MAM exposure raises kynurenic acid levels in the prefrontal cortex of adult rats.

Background: Elevated brain levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a metabolite in the kynurenine pathway, are associated with cognitive dysfunctions, which are nowadays often considered as fundamental characteristics of several psychopathologies; however, the role of KYNA in mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess KYNA levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats prenatally treated with methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate, i.e.