Cortical layer I changes in schizophrenia: a marker for impaired brain development?
The prefrontal cortices of healthy control subjects and schizophrenic patients were examined with an antibody mixture against non-phosphorylated neurofilaments (SMI 311). SMI 311 immunoreactivity was observed in numerous pyramidal neurons of layers II to VI and in Cajal-Retzius cells (CRC) of layer I. On the basis of their Golgi-like immunostaining, CRC could be classified into three morphologically heterogeneous groups, which showed different distributions in the two proband groups. The overall density of CRC in layer I did not differ significantly between controls and schizophrenics. However, CRC were more numerous in the lower third of layer I in schizophrenics and in the upper and middle third of layer I in controls. CRC play a key role in neuronal migration, thus, our results support the neurodevelopmental hypotheses of schizophrenic pathophysiology.
Kalus
P
P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Senitz
D
D
Beckmann
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins