Increase in serotonin 5-HT1A receptors in prefrontal and temporal cortices of brains from patients with chronic schizophrenia

Binding studies with [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT), a specific serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist, were done on the autopsied brains from control subjects and from patients with chronic schizophrenia. In the controls, representative Scatchard plots for the specific [3H]8-OH-DPAT bindings in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus revealed a single component of high affinity binding site. The [3H]8-OH-DPAT bindings to the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were potently inhibited by serotonin and 5-HT1A agonists, while other neurotransmitters, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 related compounds did not inhibit the binding. The bindings were decreased in the presence of 0.1mM GTP and 0.1mM GppNHp but not in the presence of 0.1mM GMP. In the prefrontal and temporal cortices of schizophrenics, there was a significant increase in the specific [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding, by 40% and 60%, respectively, with no change in the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulum, motor cortex, parietal or occipital cortex, as compared to findings in the controls