Citation

Laruelle M, Abi-Dargham A, Casanova MF, Toti R, Weinberger DR, Kleinman JE. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1993; 50(10): 810-818.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/archpsyc.1993.01820220066007

PMID

8215804

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study investigates serotonergic receptors in prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS: We measured serotonin 2 receptors and serotonin uptake sites in prefrontal and occipital cortex of schizophrenics, patients with chronic schizoaffective disorders, nonpsychotic suicides, and controls. Diagnoses were established according to DSM-III-R criteria from medical chart reviews.
RESULTS: In prefrontal cortex, serotonin 2 density was decreased in chronic psychotics dying of natural causes, as opposed to psychotics dying of suicide, controls, and nonpsychotic suicide victims. Serotonin uptake sites were decreased in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics and nonpsychotic suicides, but not in patients with schizoaffective disorder. None of the observed differences were clearly related to antemortem pharmacological treatments. In the occipital pole, no differences were found among the groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Selective prefrontal alterations of both presynaptic and postsynaptic serotonin receptor densities are present in at least some schizophrenic patients.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Down-Regulation; Female; Frontal Lobe; Humans; Ketanserin; Male; Middle Aged; Occipital Lobe; Paroxetine; Psychotic Disorders; Receptors, Serotonin; Schizophrenia; Suicide; Tritium