Immunohistochemical localization of the cell adhesion molecules Thy-1 and L1 in the human prefrontal cortex: patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression

L1 and Thy-1 are members of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily of cell adh esion molecules (CAMs) that are vital for normal neural development. Abnorm alities in CAM expression could lead to the histological abnormalities that have previously been described in the frontal cortex of patients with schi zophrenia. A postmortem immunohistochemical study of L1 and Thy-1 in the no rmal human prefrontal cortex revealed positive immunostaining of axons in a ll layers of the cortex. Quantifying the intensity of immunostaining in the prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dep ression failed to reveal any significant differences when compared to that of normal controls.