Case 8 - schizophrenia pathology

Question 1

studies done on the dopaminergic systems

Answer 1

mainly focused on the levels of mRNA from different dopamine receptors in the cortex of subjects

increase in mRNA fr the dopamine D2 receptor in the frontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia

this finding along with the report of an increase in mRNA for the dopamine D4 receptor in the cortex but not caudate from subjects with schizophrenia would suggest that there may be abnormalities in the expression of cortical dopamine receptors associated with the illness

Question 2

serotonergic systems in schizophrenia

Answer 2

increasing acceptance that antipsychotic drugs that bind both the D2 and the serotonin receptor have improved clinical outcomes

there are a number of reports of a decreased density of cortical 5HT receptor in schizophrenia, a change that id not part of the generalised change in serotonergic markers in the frontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia

decrease in cortical 5HT receptors in schizophrenia is related, at least in part to the pathology of the illness rather than an effect of drug treatment during life

mutations in the gene for the 5HT receptor are associated with schizophrenia