Abnormalities in 5-HT2A Receptor mRNA Expression in Frontal Cortex of Chronic Elderly Schizophrenics With Varying Histories of Neuroleptic Treatment
Alterations in the 5-HT2A receptor gene expression in the prefrontal cortex have been suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia. This study measured mRNA encoding 5-HT2A receptor in the left superior frontal gyrus from chronic elderly schizophrenics (n = 21...
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Published in | Journal of neuroscience research Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 218 - 225 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
15.01.2000
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Alterations in the 5-HT2A receptor gene expression in the prefrontal cortex have been suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia. This study measured mRNA encoding 5-HT2A receptor in the left superior frontal gyrus from chronic elderly schizophrenics (n = 21) with varying neuroleptic-free intervals before death (72 hr to more than 5 years), and normal drug-free elderly controls (n = 14). Levels of 5-HT2A mRNA in schizophrenics correlated significantly and inversely with neuroleptic-free interval before death (r = -0.77; P < 0.0001). In schizophrenics who had been receiving neuroleptic until time of death, levels of 5-HT2A mRNA were similar to controls or greater. In schizophrenics who had been free of neuroleptic for more than six months levels of 5-HT2A mRNA were significantly lower than in controls. These results confirm previous findings of decreased expression of the 5-HT2A receptor gene in the frontal cortex of some schizophrenics and suggest that regulation of this gene may be involved in the therapeutic actions of typical neuroleptics. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0360-4012 |
DOI: | 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4547(20000115)59:2<218::AID-JNR8>3.3.CO;2-8 |