Abstract
Background
The etiology of dementia that occurs in patients with schizophrenia is not well understood.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been implicated in cognitive function, and
deficits in these receptors have been reported in schizophrenia.
Methods
The present study investigates possible associations of nicotinic receptor subunit
expression in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, an area known to be affected in
schizophrenia, and dementia rating.
Results
α7 immunoreactivity was reduced by 20% to 28% and [3H]epibatidine binding was increased twofold in groups of patients with schizophrenia
compared to normal control subjects matched for age, postmortem delay, and low levels
of brain nicotine and cotinine. In contrast, no significant differences in α4, α3,
or β2 immunoreactivity or α7 messenger RNA expression were observed in schizophrenia
patients compared with control subject values. Clinical dementia ratings in patients
with schizophrenia were correlated with neither [3H]epibatidine binding nor nicotinic receptor subunit expression.
Conclusions
These data indicate no relationship between the trend for reduced neocortical α7 subunit
protein expression in schizophrenia and dementia. Further investigations are required
to establish whether the reduction in α7 protein in the dorsal lateral prefrontal
cortex is associated with clinical features other than dementia in schizophrenia.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 21,
2003
Received in revised form:
February 13,
2003
Received:
October 1,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
