P-31 MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Phospholipid metabolism abnormalities have been suggested by a number of postmortem brain and red blood cell studies in schizophrenia. P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy enables the examination of phospholipi d metabolism in living patients. These in vivo studies have demonstrat ed that schizophrenic patients have lower prefrontal levels of phospho monoesters and higher levels of phosphodiesters compared to matched co ntrols. Patients with psychotic depression also seem to show lower lev els of phosphomonoesters compared to controls. This suggests that memb rane phospholipid differences may not be specific to schizophrenia. Pr eliminary P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies at high field s trength on postmortem temporal robe samples show no differences betwee n treated schizophrenic patients and controls for phosphoethanolamine and phosphocholine which are the main constituents of the phosphomonoe ster peak. Further studies are underway in the prefrontal region. Whil e P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have demonstrated membr ane phospholipid abnormalities in schizophrenia, it is not clear wheth er these findings are specific to schizophrenia or part of a generaliz ed membrane phospholipid abnormality.