Expression of nNOS and soluble guanylate cyclase in schizophrenic brain.

Recent evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) systems are affected in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We quantified levels of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) subunit mRNAs in the prefrontal cortex of post-mortem brains from individuals with schizophrenia and controls using real-time quantitative PCR, to determine whether levels of nNOS and sGC subunits are altered in 'schizophrenic' brains. Neuronal NOS expression in the prefrontal cortex was significantly higher in individuals with schizophrenia, whereas no significant changes were found in sGC subunit mRNAs in people with schizophrenia or in controls. Abnormalities of nNOS expression in the brain might contribute to the development of schizophrenia.