Altered thalamic membrane phospholipids in schizophrenia: a postmortem study.
BACKGROUND
Membrane lipids are important mediators of neuronal function. In a postmortem study, we measured membrane lipid components in the left thalamus of schizophrenic patients. This region might play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and has not been studied thus far with respect to its membrane lipid composition.


METHODS
The study included 18 chronic schizophrenic patients and 23 healthy control subjects. Using lipid extraction and thin-layer chromatography, we measured membrane phospholipids, galactocerebrosides 1 and 2, and sulfatides in thalamus homogenate.


RESULTS
The main membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine and the major myelin membrane components sphingomyelin and galactocerebrosides 1 and 2 were found to be decreased in schizophrenic patients. In contrast, phosphatidylserine was increased. These lipid contents did not correlate with postmortem intervals and medication doses. There was no difference in the membrane phospholipids lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylglycerol or in sulfatides.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm findings of magnetic resonance imaging, postmortem, and gene expression studies. They support the notion of an increased phospholipid breakdown in schizophrenia as a sign for decreased myelination and oligodendrocyte dysfunction.
Schmitt
Andrea
A
Department of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Wilczek
Katrin
K
Blennow
Kaj
K
Maras
Athanasios
A
Jatzko
Alexander
A
Petroianu
Georg
G
Braus
Dieter F
DF
Gattaz
Wagner F
WF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001344:Autopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013433:Sulfoglycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D005699:Galactosylceramides; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D013433:Sulfoglycosphingolipids