Selective abnormalities of prefrontal serotonergic receptors in schizophrenia. A postmortem study.
BACKGROUND
This study investigates serotonergic receptors in prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
We measured serotonin 2 receptors and serotonin uptake sites in prefrontal and occipital cortex of schizophrenics, patients with chronic schizoaffective disorders, nonpsychotic suicides, and controls. Diagnoses were established according to DSM-III-R criteria from medical chart reviews.


RESULTS
In prefrontal cortex, serotonin 2 density was decreased in chronic psychotics dying of natural causes, as opposed to psychotics dying of suicide, controls, and nonpsychotic suicide victims. Serotonin uptake sites were decreased in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics and nonpsychotic suicides, but not in patients with schizoaffective disorder. None of the observed differences were clearly related to antemortem pharmacological treatments. In the occipital pole, no differences were found among the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Selective prefrontal alterations of both presynaptic and postsynaptic serotonin receptor densities are present in at least some schizophrenic patients.
Laruelle
M
M
Neuropathology Section, National Institute of Mental Health Neuroscience Center, St Elizabeths, Washington, DC.
Abi-Dargham
A
A
Casanova
M F
MF
Toti
R
R
Weinberger
D R
DR
Kleinman
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000737:chemistry; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000378:metabolism; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014316:Tritium
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D014316:Tritium; D017374:Paroxetine; D007650:Ketanserin