Neurotransmitters, receptors and neuropeptides in post-mortem brains of chronic schizophrenic patients.
In the analysis of post-mortem brains of 14 chronic schizophrenic patients and 10 controls, biochemical evidence of a hyperdopaminergic state was found in the basal ganglia of schizophrenics; tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased with a concomitant increase of homovanillic acid. Unusually high tyrosine hydroxylase activity was noted in 2 schizophrenic cases. The Bmax value of 3H-spiperone binding for schizophrenics was higher than the controls. We also found increased specific binding of 3H-kainic acid to the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenics. A negative correlation existed between 3H-kainic acid binding in the medial frontal cortex, and glutamic acid content in various brain areas. Increased immunoreactivity of substance P was found in more than ten brain areas. Methionine-enkephalin was also increased in three areas of the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics. These results suggest that the hyperdopaminergic state co-existed with glutamatergic hypofunction and increased neuropeptides in various brain areas of chronic schizophrenic patients.
Toru
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Watanabe
S
S
Shibuya
H
H
Nishikawa
T
T
Noda
K
K
Mitsushio
H
H
Ichikawa
H
H
Kurumaji
A
A
Takashima
M
M
Mataga
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000032:analysis*; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000473:pathology
D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D004298:Dopamine