Changes in the molecular structure of the brain in bipolar disorder: findings using human postmortem brain tissue.

Human postmortem brain studies are beginning to suggest mechanisms that underlie the pathology of bipolar disorder. Evidence that implicates abnormalities in G-protein, neurotransmitter turnover, neurotransmitter receptors and neurotransmitter receptor signal amplification will be reviewed. In addition, individual studies that suggest roles for pre-synaptic proteins, neuronal guidance proteins, neuropeptides, intra-neuronal ion homeostasis and environmental factor reactive proteins in the pathology of the disorder are also presented. Together these studies confirm that the pathology of bipolar disorder is complex but is yielding to intense study of the molecular architecture of postmortem brain tissue from subjects with the illness.