Intracellular alterations of the creatine kinase isoforms in brains of schizophrenic patients.

Postmortem brain tissues of schizophrenic patients were found to contain 5-10 times less water-soluble creatine kinase (BB CK) and 1.5-3 times less mitochondrial creatine kinase as compared to control. The major part of BB CK in schizophrenic brain tissues, contrary to control, was found to be insoluble in water (particulate form of BB CK) and could be extracted from brain tissue with strong denaturating agents. The particulate form of BB CK did not have any enzymatic activity but activity was found after the solubilization of this isoenzyme. The observed BB CK translocation into the particulate inactive form and the decrease of mitochondrial CK content to schizophrenic brains may reflect changes in the synthesis and the utilization of creatine phosphate.