title: Activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients.
abstract: Activities of superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) in erythrocytes were evaluated in 50 schizophrenic and 20 manic-depressive patients, who were or were not being treated with different neuroleptic drugs, and results were compared with those for 58 normal individuals. Neuroleptic-treated and untreated schizophrenic patients showed similar activities of superoxide dismutase, about 60% higher than those found in normal individuals (p less than 0.001). In manic-depressive patients treated with either lithium (n = 8) or lithium plus neuroleptic drugs (n = 12), superoxide dismutase activities were increased by about 40% over those of normal subjects (p less than 0.001). Significantly abnormal activities of glutathione peroxidase were found only in the sub-group of schizophrenic women. These results are interpreted in terms of active oxygen species involvement in the psychiatric manifestations.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bechara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase