Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Raedler, T. J. Articles by Weinberger, D. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Raedler, T. J. Articles by Weinberger, D. R. Neurotransmitters Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders SPECT

In Vivo Determination of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Availability in Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Postmortem studies have implicated the central muscarinic acetylcholine system in schizophrenia. However, central muscarinic receptor availability has not previously been studied in vivo. Using [I-123]iodoquinuclidinyl benzilate ([¹²³I]IQNB) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), the authors sought to compare the muscarinic receptor availability in vivo in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia and normal subjects. METHOD: Twelve medication-free patients with schizophrenia underwent an [¹²³I]IQNB SPECT scan during approximate-equilibrium conditions. A group of 10 age- and gender-matched normal comparison subjects were given the same kind of scan under similar conditions. Regions of interest were analyzed in the cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and pons. Binding data were analyzed as nCi/ml tissue per mCi injected dose. RESULTS: Muscarinic receptor availability was significantly less in patients with schizophrenia than in normal subjects in all regions of interest except the pons. Reductions ranged from –33% in the caudate to –20% in the occipital cortex. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia correlated negatively with muscarinic receptor availability in the striatum and the frontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a reduction in muscarinic acetylcholine receptor availability in vivo in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia, confirming results from postmortem studies and adding further evidence that the muscarinic system is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. W. Buchanan, R. R. Conley, D. Dickinson, M. P. Ball, S. Feldman, J. M. Gold, and R. P. McMahon Galantamine for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairments in People With Schizophrenia Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2008; 165(1): 82 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. W. Buchanan, R. Freedman, D. C. Javitt, A. Abi-Dargham, and J. A. Lieberman Recent Advances in the Development of Novel Pharmacological Agents for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairments in Schizophrenia Schizophr Bull, September 1, 2007; 33(5): 1120 - 1130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. van der Stelt and A. Belger Application of Electroencephalography to the Study of Cognitive and Brain Functions in Schizophrenia Schizophr Bull, July 1, 2007; 33(4): 955 - 970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Stone, P. D. Morrison, and L. S. Pilowsky Review: Glutamate and dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia a synthesis and selective review J Psychopharmacol, June 1, 2007; 21(4): 440 - 452. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Yamada, D. J. Gerber, Y. Iwayama, T. Ohnishi, H. Ohba, T. Toyota, J. Aruga, Y. Minabe, S. Tonegawa, and T. Yoshikawa From the Cover: Genetic analysis of the calcineurin pathway identifies members of the EGR gene family, specifically EGR3, as potential susceptibility candidates in schizophrenia PNAS, February 20, 2007; 104(8): 2815 - 2820. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.-P. Behrendt Dysregulation of thalamic sensory 'transmission' in schizophrenia: neurochemical vulnerability to hallucinations J Psychopharmacol, May 1, 2006; 20(3): 356 - 372. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Breier Developing Drugs for Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia Schizophr Bull, October 1, 2005; 31(4): 816 - 822. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sarter, C. L Nelson, and J. P Bruno Cortical Cholinergic Transmission and Cortical Information Processing in Schizophrenia Schizophr Bull, January 1, 2005; 31(1): 117 - 138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2003 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us