Decreased protein level of nicotinic receptor alpha 7 subunit in the frontal cortex from schizophrenic brain

THE alpha 7 subunit of nicotinic receptor (nAChR) was investigated in post- mortem brain tissue from eight schizophrenics and eight age-matched control s by Western blot. Using anti-alpha 7 antibodies a single band with a mel. wt of 42 kDa was detected in human post-mortem brain, which was smaller in size than the single band (52 kDa) detected in SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells. The smaller band specifically bound to [I-125]alpha-bungarotoxin, confirming th e specificity of the detection in the human brain samples. A significant de crease in the level of alpha 7 subunit protein was observed with the same m ethod in the frontal cortex of schizophrenics compared with controls, while no difference was found in the parietal cortex. These findings suggest tha t a deficit of nAChR alpha 7 subunit in the frontal cortex might be involve d in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. NeuroReport 10:1779-1782 (C) 199 9 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.