Dopamine receptor signaling molecules are altered in elderly schizophrenic cortex

KL Baracskay, V Haroutunian, JH Meador‐Woodruff - Synapse, 2006 - Wiley Online Library
KL Baracskay, V Haroutunian, JH Meador‐Woodruff
Synapse, 2006Wiley Online Library
Alterations of molecules that mediate dopaminergic signal transduction have been found in
schizophrenia, supporting the hypothesis of altered dopaminergic neurotransmission in this
illness. To further explore this hypothesis, the authors measured transcript expression of
three proteins involved in dopamine (DA) signaling in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal
and anterior cingulate cortex of elderly schizophrenic subjects and a comparison group. The
transcript encoding calcyon, a protein that potentiates crosstalk between D1 DA receptors …
Abstract
Alterations of molecules that mediate dopaminergic signal transduction have been found in schizophrenia, supporting the hypothesis of altered dopaminergic neurotransmission in this illness. To further explore this hypothesis, the authors measured transcript expression of three proteins involved in dopamine (DA) signaling in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex of elderly schizophrenic subjects and a comparison group. The transcript encoding calcyon, a protein that potentiates crosstalk between D1 DA receptors and Gq/11‐linked receptors, was increased in schizophrenic prefrontal and cingulate cortex by 25%. Transcript levels of spinophilin, a protein enriched in dendritic spines that modulates excitatory neurotransmission, were increased 22% in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex but were unchanged in anterior cingulate cortex in schizophrenia. Levels of DARPP‐32 mRNA, a downstream effector of dopaminergic neurotransmission, were similar in both groups for both cortical groups. These alterations in spinophilin and calcyon mRNA levels in schizophrenic prefrontal and cingulate cortex provide further evidence of altered dopaminergic neurotransmission in this illness. Synapse 60:271–279, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wiley Online Library