Search

By means of computer assisted morphometry and microdensitometry it has been possible to characterize aging processes in transmitter identified neurons demonstrated at the presynaptic level by immunocytochemistry and at the postsynaptic level by receptor autoradiography. Three-month- and 24-month-old rats were used in the present study. It was discovered that the DA neurons innervating the striatum and nucleus accumbens underwent degeneration in the aging brain both at the pre- and post-synaptic level, while the DA synapses within the tuberculum olfactorium remained intact. In this quantitative receptor autoradiographical analysis 3H-spiperone and 3H-N-propyl-norapomorphine were used as radioligands for DA receptors. In comparison with the aging induced changes in DA receptors in the striatum and in the nucleus accumbens the alpha 2- and the beta-adrenergic receptors appeared to be more resistant to the aging process. In the analysis of the opiate receptors of the aging brain it could be demonstrated by quantitative receptor autoradiography using both radioligands for the mu-type (3H-etorphin) and delta-type (3H-d-ala2-d-leu5-enkephalin) of opiate receptors that there is a marked and widespread disappearance of both types of opiate receptors in the aging brain. It must be emphasized that no correlation exists in the degeneration pattern of the mu- and delta-type of opioid receptors indicating that they may represent two separate entities with separate trophic regulation. In contrast, it was discovered in the quantitative receptor autoradiographical analysis that 3H-flunitrazepam binding was increased in many areas of the aging brain compared with the adult rat brain. These results underline the heterogeneity in the degenerative patterns which take place in transmitter receptors in relation to aging. Thus, these results indicate that the simple replacement therapy in aged patients may not give optimal results. As a matter of fact, such treatments can lead to a further unbalance between the various types of transmitter identified neurons building up the neuronal networks of the brain, which are undergoing degeneration.

Introduction: Social dysfunction is a common symptom of several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, only in the last few years research began to systematically investigate clinical aspects of this relevant outcome. Interestingly, its distribution and link with other clinical variables is still unclear. This study investigated social dysfunction in 4 different cohorts of patients affected by mood disorders and schizophrenia to evaluate 1) the degree of social dysfunction in these populations; 2) the associations among social dysfunction and socio-demographic and psychopathological features. Methods: Data from 4 independent studies (CATIE, GSRD ES1, ES2 and ES3, STAR*D, STEP-BD) were investigated. Behavioural and affective indicators of social dysfunction were derived and operationalized from scales or questionnaire items related to the interaction with relatives, friends and significant people in patients affected by schizophrenia (N = 765) and mood disorders (N = 2278 + 1954 + 1829). In particular the social dysfunction indicator was derived from Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) for GSRD sample, from the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) for STAR*D sample, from the Life-Range of Impaired Functioning Tool (LRIFT) for STEP-BD sample, and from the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) for CATIE sample. The distribution of social dysfunction was described and association with socio-demographic and psychopathological characteristics were analysed. Results: Social dysfunction indicators showed a broad distribution in all samples investigated. Consistently across studies, social dysfunction was associated with higher psychopathological severity (all samples except CATIE) and suicide risk (GSRD ES1 and ES2, STAR*D, and STEP-BD) that explain up to 47% of the variance, but also to lower education level (GSRD ES2, STAR*D, CATIE, and STEP-BD), poorer professional/work status (GSRD ES2 and ES3, STAR*D, CATIE, and STEP-BD), marital status (STAR*D and CATIE), age (younger age in GSRD ES1 and STAR*D, older age in CATIE), higher BMI (GSRD ES2 and ES3, and STEP-BD), and smoking (GSRD ES2 and ES3). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that a significant percentage of patients affected by both mood disorders and schizophrenia shows relevant social dysfunction. Social dysfunction is related, but not completely explained by psychopathological severity. In several patients, it tends to persist also during remission state. Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were also found to play a role and should therefore be taken into consideration in further studies investigating social dysfunction., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published