Increased Brain Membrane Fluidity in Schizophrenia

 

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Abstract

Recent findings showing significant correlations between phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity and structural changes in schizophrenic brains contribute to the membrane hypothesis of schizophrenia, which was hampered because a clean functional link between elevated PLA2 activity and brain structure was missing (Neuroimage, 2010; 52: 1314–1327). We measured membrane fluidity parameters and found that brain membranes isolated from the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients showed significantly increased flexibility of fatty acid chains. Our findings support a possible link between elevated PLA2 activity in cortical areas of schizophrenic patients and subsequent alterations of the biophysical parameters of neuronal membranes leading to structural changes in these areas.

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Correspondence

G. P. Eckert

Department of Pharmacology

Goethe-University of Frankfurt

Campus Riedberg, Biocenter

Max-von-Laue Straße 9

60438 Frankfurt

Germany

Phone: +49/69/7982 9378

Fax: +49/69/7982 9374

Email: G.P.Eckert@em.uni-frankfurt.de

URL: http://www.erkert-science.com