Cholecystokinin CCKB receptor mRNA isoforms: expression in schizophrenic brains

IN the light of earlier findings of reduced cholecystokinin (CCK) peptide a nd CCK mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex, we have used in situ hybridizati on to examine possible regulation of mRNAs coding for two isoforms of the C CKB receptor in frontal cortex (Brodmann's area 10) of schizophrenic patien ts. The hybridizations revealed a 51% decrease of the full length CCKB rece ptor mRNA in the outer layers (II-III) of the frontal cortex. The correspon ding alterations for the truncated isoform were a 65% reduction in the oute r layers and a 62% reduction in the inner layers (IV-VI) of the frontal cor tex. This strengthens the hypothesis that CCKergic transmission in this par t of the brain is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. NeuroRe port 10:3265-3268 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.