Increased levels of SNAP-25 and synaptophysin in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in bipolar I disorder.
OBJECTIVE
In order to identify whether the mechanisms associated with neurotransmitter release are involved in the pathologies of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, levels of presynaptic [synaptosomal-associated protein-25 (SNAP-25), syntaxin, synaptophysin, vesicle-associated membrane protein, dynamin I] and structural (neuronal cell adhesion molecule and alpha-synuclein) neuronal markers were measured in Brodmann's area 9 obtained postmortem from eight subjects with bipolar I disorder (BPDI), 20 with schizophrenia and 20 controls.


METHODS
Determinations of protein levels were carried out using Western blot techniques with specific antibodies. Levels of mRNA were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
In BPDI, levels of SNAP-25 (p < 0.01) and synaptophysin (p < 0.05) increased. There were no changes in schizophrenia or any other changes in BPDI. Levels of mRNA for SNAP-25 were decreased in BPDI (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in SNAP-25 and synaptophysin in BPDI suggest that changes in specific neuronal functions could be linked to the pathology of the disorder.
Scarr
E
E
Rebecca L. Cooper Research Laboratories, The Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. elscarr@unimelb.edu.au
Gray
L
L
Keriakous
D
D
Robinson
P J
PJ
Dean
B
B
D000906:Antibodies; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D034284:Dynamin I / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C491152:NRCAM protein, human; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C494208:SNAP25 protein, human; D016708:Synaptophysin; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D034284:Dynamin I