Nitric oxide, free radicals and polyamines may have a role in the membrane pathology of schizophrenia.
Studies on skin fibroblasts in culture derived from schizophrenic and control subjects showed that polyamines are increased, nitrate levels are reduced and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances did not alter in cultured cells from schizophrenic patients compared to control subjects. Results seem to indicate some alteration in membrane functions in schizophrenia, which is susceptible to neuroleptic treatment. Significantly increased levels of polyamines in drug-treated schizophrenic cells indicates a possible role of polyamines in the activation of proposed hypofunctional NMDA subtype of glutamate receptor systems in schizophrenia.
Das
I
I
Department of Psychiatry, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK. idas@cxwms.ac.uk
Ramchand
C N
CN
Gliddon
A
A
Hirsch
S R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D005609:Free Radicals; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D009569:Nitric Oxide