NEUROTROPHIN-3 LEVELS IN THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA OR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) may have a potential role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, given evidence of abnormal neurodevelopment in schizop hrenia, as well as a potential association of an NT-3 gene polymorphis m with schizophrenia. Cerebrospinal fluid NT-3 protein was assayed usi ng an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in five patients with schizoph renia and 49 patients with medical illness. None of the patients with schizophrenia had detectable levels of NT-3 (above 4.7 pg/ml). Eleven samples from 10 different patients with medical or neurological illnes s had detectable levels of NT-3, associated with surgery for hydroceph alus or central nervous system infection. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ir eland Ltd.