Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:1334-1337
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Down-regulation of central dopamine receptors in schizophrenia
FP Zemlan, RJ Hitzemann, J Hirschowitz and DL Garver
CSF homovanillic acid (HVA) levels reflecting central dopamine release and
apomorphine-stimulated human growth hormone (HGH) secretion reflecting
central dopamine receptor activity were concomitantly determined in 20
schizophrenic patients. There was a strong negative correlation between HVA
and HGH levels: high dopamine release was associated with lower HGH
responses to dopamine receptor activation by apomorphine. Studies are
reviewed which suggest that the presently observed relationship reflects
release-mediated down-regulation of central D2 receptors, the dopamine
receptor subtype associated with the antipsychotic properties of
neuroleptic medication.
