title: Low angiotensin-converting enzyme activity (kininase II) in cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenics.
abstract: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (kininase II, E. C., 3.4.15.1) activity was present in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of paranoid schizophrenic patients and psychiatrically healthy controls. Both schizophrenics under neuroleptic treatment and drug-free patients had low cerebrospinal enzyme activity when compared with controls. No correlation existed with the scores of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. A negative correlation of enzyme activity with cerebrospinal levels of both dopamine and noradrenaline was detected. Our findings suggest the possibility of a central alteration of the metabolism of neuropeptides in paranoid schizophrenia.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004298:Dopamine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine