PMID: 8971805Nov 29, 1996Paper

No difference in the expression of the D4 gene in post-mortem frontal cortex from controls and schizophrenics

Neuroscience Letters
J Mulcrone, R W Kerwin

Abstract

The primary biochemical theory of schizophrenia has centered on the role of dopaminergic dysfunction in the illness. The D2 receptor has been primarily indicated however, some atypical neuroleptics may not act at D2. The D4 receptor has a high affinity for the atypical antipsychotic clozapine and is therefore a potential target for drug design. The role of D4 in the aetiology of schizophrenia has, however, been the subject of controversy. Using radioligand binding assays some researchers have detected an elevation of D4-like receptors in schizophrenic striatum whilst conversely other workers claim that D4 receptors are undetectable in this region. Analysis of receptor levels is difficult due to the lack of a ligand selective for D4. We have therefore examined D4 at the level of gene expression. D4 mRNA levels have been examined in post-mortem frontal cortex from nine controls and eight schizophrenics using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. No significant difference in D4 mRNA levels was found between the two groups. This result does not support a major role for variability of D4 gene expression in the aetiology of schizophrenia.

References

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Mar 1, 1995·Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research·M MatsumotoT Yamaguchi
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Citations

Oct 18, 2000·European Journal of Pharmacology·J N OakH H Van Tol
Apr 29, 1998·Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research·N C StefanisG McAllister
Nov 19, 1997·Neuroscience Letters·J Mulcrone, R W Kerwin
Feb 7, 1998·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·M F Egan, D R Weinberger
Aug 23, 2000·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·B Dean
Feb 24, 2001·Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology·S K Kulkarni, I Ninan
Oct 22, 2002·Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs·Gina KuperbergRobin Murray
Jun 23, 2009·Neurochemistry International·Donatella MarazzitiAntonio Lucacchini
Jun 30, 2000·Japanese Journal of Pharmacology·D M Helmeste, S W Tang

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