title: Reduced cyclic AMP production in the blood platelets from schizophrenic patients.
abstract: The authors assessed alpha-adrenergic receptor function in blood platelets from chronic schizophrenic patients and normal control subjects. The number of receptors was measured by the specific binding of the alpha-adrenergic antagonist [3H]dihydroergocryptine to the platelets. A physiological response of the platelets to agonist occupancy of the alpha-adrenergic receptors was measured by the norepinephrine inhibition of prostaglandin E1(PGE1)-stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) production. cAMP production in male schizophrenic patients was lower than in normal male subjects. alpha-Adrenergic receptor function was similar in patients and normal control subjects of both sexes. Normal male subjects had about 1.5 times the number of alpha-adrenergic receptors as normal females and generated about 1.8 times the quantity of PGE1-stimulated cAMP.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood*; D004088:Dihydroergotoxine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000494:pharmacology; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D004088:Dihydroergotoxine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D009638:Norepinephrine