Reduced tyrosine kinase receptor C mRNA levels in the frontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia.
Using a quantitative RNA-PCR approach tyrosine kinase receptor (trk) C mRNA levels were determined in brain material from the frontal cortex (BA10), temporal cortex (BA20) and cerebellum of control specimen and patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or non-psychotic depression (15 subjects each). In the frontal cortex of schizophrenics there was a 5.8-fold reduction of trk C mRNA levels, which reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). Trk C levels in the cerebellum were positively correlated with lifetime fluphenazine equivalents (r = 0.54), suggesting that neuroleptics influence TRK C gene activity in the cerebellum. Moreover, the distinct medication-independent reduction of trk C mRNA may point to a disturbed neurotrophic gene activity in the frontal cortex of schizophrenic patients.
Schramm
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, Germany.
Falkai
P
P
Feldmann
N
N
Knable
M B
MB
Bayer
T A
TA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D020812:Receptor, trkC; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020812:Receptor, trkC; D005476:Fluphenazine