Alterations in serum amino acid concentrations in male and female schizophrenic patients.
BACKGROUND
Since several studies have investigated gender-related differences in the onset of disease, response to drug therapy, etc. in schizophrenic patients, we examined the alterations in serum amino acids concentrations in male and female patients separately.


METHODS
Serum amino acid concentrations in the normal (n=35; male 21 and female 14) and schizophrenic patients (n=32; male 19 and female 13) were determined by HPLC using a pre-column fluorescence derivatization with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole.


RESULTS
Serum glutamate and serine concentrations were significantly increased in the male schizophrenic patients (p=0.0161 and 0.0257, respectively), while the serum Pro concentration was significantly increased in female schizophrenic patients (p=0.0398). Serum Glu, Ser, and Pro concentrations in the patients did not significantly correlate with the age, age of onset of disease, duration of illness, and chlorpromazine equivalents. Among the amino acids, serum Orn concentrations in male and female schizophrenic patients positively correlated with the duration of illness (p<0.01, r=0.685 and 0.688, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest the existence of gender-related differences in the alterations in serum amino acid concentrations in schizophrenic patients; further, serum Orn concentration in both sexes might be influenced by medications.
Tomiya
Masayuki
M
Division of Bio-Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
Fukushima
Takeshi
T
Watanabe
Hiroyuki
H
Fukami
Goro
G
Fujisaki
Mihisa
M
Iyo
Masaomi
M
Hashimoto
Kenji
K
Mitsuhashi
Shogo
S
Toyo'oka
Toshimasa
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D010879:Piperazines; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012737:Sex Factors
C432126:4-nitro-7-piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole; D000596:Amino Acids; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D010879:Piperazines; D002746:Chlorpromazine