OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional state of glutamatergic neurons in the cerebellar cortex of patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: The authors measured messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of three activity-dependent genes expressed by glutamatergic neurons in the cerebellar cortex (GAP-43, BDNF, and GABA OLE_LINK2>(A)-delta subunit) in the tissues of 14 patients with schizophrenia and 14 matched nonpsychiatric comparison subjects. Since its level of expression does not change in response to neuronal activity, gamma-aminobutyric acid(A)-alpha6 subunit mRNA was used as a control. RESULTS: The levels of GAP-43 and BDNF mRNAs were significantly elevated in patients with schizophrenia, and a similar finding was observed for GABA(A)-delta mRNA. In contrast, the levels of the GABA(A)-alpha6 subunit mRNA, which is expressed in cerebellar granule cells in an activity-independent manner, did not differ from comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that glutamatergic neurons may be hyperactive in the cerebellar cortices of patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional state of glutamatergic neurons in the cerebellar cortex of patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: The authors measured messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of three activity-dependent genes expressed by glutamatergic neurons in the cerebellar cortex (GAP-43, BDNF, and GABA OLE_LINK2>(A)-delta subunit) in the tissues of 14 patients with schizophrenia and 14 matched nonpsychiatric comparison subjects. Since its level of expression does not change in response to neuronal activity, gamma-aminobutyric acid(A)-alpha6 subunit mRNA was used as a control. RESULTS: The levels of GAP-43 and BDNF mRNAs were significantly elevated in patients with schizophrenia, and a similar finding was observed for GABA(A)-delta mRNA. In contrast, the levels of the GABA(A)-alpha6 subunit mRNA, which is expressed in cerebellar granule cells in an activity-independent manner, did not differ from comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that glutamatergic neurons may be hyperactive in the cerebellar cortices of patients with schizophrenia.
Authors: Benchawanna Soontornniyomkij; Ian P Everall; Gursharan Chana; Ming T Tsuang; Cristian L Achim; Virawudh Soontornniyomkij Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2011-05-25 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Jennifer K Forsyth; Amanda R Bolbecker; Crystal S Mehta; Mallory J Klaunig; Joseph E Steinmetz; Brian F O'Donnell; William P Hetrick Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2010-12-09 Impact factor: 9.306