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Abstract: Metabotropic glutamate receptors 2 and 3 (mGluR2/3) have been shown as efficient targets for antipsychotic intervention. We therefore investigated the receptor density of mGluR2/3 in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC; Brodman area 46) of schizophrenia/schizoaffective patients (n=37) and matched controls (n=37) using receptor autoradiography. No difference in mGluR2/3 density was identified in relation to schizophrenia diagnosis. Overall and in individual groups, a negative correlation of mGluR2/3 density and age at death has been found. These and previous results suggest that density of mGluR2/3 in the dlPFC is less likely to impact on the efficiency of the mGluR2/3 agonist in treating schizophrenia symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a glycoprotein and plays an important role in cell-cell adhesion, neural migration, neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity and brain development. We investigated the relationship between the serum NCAM concentration and cognitive deficit in first episode drug naïve schizophrenia (FES) patients.Methods: Thirty FES patients and thirty healthy controls were recruited for this study. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). Cognitive functions were assessed by measurement and treatment research to improve cognition in schizophrenia (MATRICS) and consensus cognitive battery (MCCB). Serum levels of NCAM were determined by ELISA.Results: Schizophrenia patients had decreased serum NCAM concentrations than controls (-30%, p<0.001). Cognitive scores were significantly lower in FES patients than healthy controls (-34%, p<0.001). The NCAM concentrations were positively correlated with the total scores of MCCB (r=0.438, p=0.003). Multiple regression analysis confirmed that serum NCAM concentration was an independent contributor to MCCB total Scores.Conclusions: There were a close relationship between the serum NCAM concentrations and cognitive deficits in FES patients. Since NCAM has an important role in neurodevelopmental processes, these results support the neurodevelopmental dysfunction hypothesis of schizophrenia and suggest that an altered NCAM may be one of the risk factors for schizophrenia including cognitive deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]