Mitochondrial function is differentially altered in the basal ganglia of chronic schizophrenics.

In the present study, we have applied a novel strategy involving the postmortem measurement of the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme cytochrome-c oxidase (COX; complex IV) to identify regional changes in energy metabolism in the basal ganglia of chronic, medicated schizophrenics. COX activity was decreased in the caudate nucleus but increased in the putamen and nucleus accumbens. An increase in succinate dehydrogenase (complex II) was evident in the putamen and nucleus accumbens, but changes were not seen with NADH dehydrogenase (complex I). An analysis of interregional correlations in energy metabolism revealed several anomalies in the connections between the caudate and putamen and the globus pallidus in schizophrenics. Results provide strong evidence that changes in baseline energy metabolism in specific regions of the basal ganglia may exist in the disease. Based upon the high degree of input it receives from associative cortical areas, results suggest that a defect in the caudate may underlie certain aspects of cognitive decline in schizophrenics. In contrast, an increase in COX in the putamen, which receives extensive projections from the sensorimotor cortex, may reflect an effect of chronic neuroleptic treatment on motor function.