INCREASED ARACHIDONIC-ACID INDUCED PLATELET CHEMILUMINESCENCE INDICATES CYCLOOXYGENASE OVERACTIVITY IN SCHIZOPHRENIC SUBJECTS

Platelets were found to emit a burst of chemiluminescence during incub ation with arachidonic or linoleic acid. This chemiluminescence respon se may indicate activation of the enzyme prostaglandin synthase in the arachidonate-induced platelet chemiluminescence as it is inhibited by aspirin. Stimulation of platelets with arachidonic acid and linoleic acid induced a concentration dependent chemiluminescence response. Pla telets from drug naive schizophrenic subjects showed significantly inc reased arachidonic acid metabolism compared to control subjects. No si gnificant difference was observed between schizophrenic and control su bjects in the chemiluminescence response to linoleic acid. In schizoph renic subjects treated with neuroleptic drugs the overactive arachidon ic acid response was normalized. Linoleic acid chemiluminescence respo nse was unaffected by neuroleptic treatment. Hyperactive cyclooxygenas e activity may reflect a similar condition in the brain and implicates prostaglandin pathway abnormalities in the pathogenesis of schizophre nia.