Role of polyamines in the membrane pathology of schizophrenia. A study using fibroblasts from schizophrenic patients and normal controls.
The polyamines putrescine, spermine, and spermidine play a major role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, metabolic pathways, and on cell membrane functions in mammalian systems. It has recently been suggested that polyamines may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Moreover, several reports suggest that schizophrenia may be associated with a generalized cell membrane abnormality. In view of these findings, we measured polyamine levels in cultured skin fibroblasts from schizophrenic patients and normal control subjects. These was a significant increase in the levels of spermidine and in total polyamines in fibroblasts and spermine in the culture medium from schizophrenic patients. This preliminary report suggests that polyamines may play an important role in the membrane abnormalities that have been reported in schizophrenic patients.
Institute of Biological Psychiatry, University of Wales, Bangor, UK.
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CN
Ramchand
I
I
Das
A
A
Gliddon
S R
SR
Hirsch
D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism
D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine