TYROSINE TRANSPORT IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Tyrosine transport was examined in cultured skin fibroblasts from pati ents with schizophrenia (DSM-III-R) and normal subjects. The transport capacity (V-max) was lower in the patients. The results confirm previ ous findings of decreased tyrosine transport in schizophrenia. In cell s incubated with psychotropic drugs at different concentrations, tyros ine transport was not differentially influenced across patients and no rmal subjects. Dopaminergic and beta-adrenergic receptor mechanisms di d not seem to influence tyrosine uptake. There seems to be a primary d isturbance of tyrosine transport in schizophrenia which indicates a ge neralized cell membrane dysfunction.