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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
neuroscience
Decreased serum neurotrophin 3 in chronically medicated schizophrenic males
Neuroscience Letters, Volume 440, No. 3, Year 2008
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Description
There is evidence that major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (SZ) are associated with deregulation of synaptic plasticity with downstream alterations of neurotrophins. NT3 is an important neurotrophin in the central nervous system, and performs key biological functions, such as promoting the survival, differentiation, and plasticity of neurons. NT3 has a central role in the early neuronal development; enhancing the survival of dopaminergic neurons, suggesting possible involvement in the physiopathology of dopamine related neuropsychiatric disorders such as SZ. Variations in the NT3 gene increase the risk of SZ. Three groups of chronically medicated DSM-IV patients with SZ, on treatment with clozapine (n = 12), haloperidol (n = 12), risperidone (n = 12) and 10 healthy controls had 5 ml blood samples collected by venipuncture. NT3 serum levels were assessed using sandwich-ELISA and were significantly lower in SZ patients (p < 0.005) when compared to either controls. These findings suggest that the NT3 signaling system may play a role in the pathophysiology of SZ and might be related to the course of illness or to treatment variables. Longitudinal studies are warranted. © 2008.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gama, Clarissa Severino
Brazil, Porto Alegre
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Brazil, Porto Alegre
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Australia, Geelong
Barwon Health
Palha, Joana A.
Portugal, Braga
Universidade do Minho
Berk, Michael
Australia, Geelong
Barwon Health
Australia, Melbourne
Orygen Research Centre
Australia, Melbourne
The Florey
Kapczinski, Flávio Pereira
Brazil, Porto Alegre
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Brazil, Porto Alegre
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Statistics
Citations: 21
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.neulet.2008.04.027
ISSN:
03043940
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Mental Health
Study Design
Cohort Study