Selective Abnormalities of Prefrontal Serotonergic Receptors in Schizophrenia

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background: This study investigates serotonergic receptors in prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: We measured serotonin2receptors and serotonin uptake sites in prefrontal and occipital cortex of schizophrenics, patients with chronic schizoaffective disorders, nonpsychotic suicides, and controls. Diagnoses were established according toDSM-III-Rcriteria from medical chart reviews. Results: In prefrontal cortex, serotonin2density 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.