Putamen mitochondrial energy metabolism is highly correlated to emotional and intellectual impairment in schizophrenics

In a recent study, we demonstrated that cytochrome-c oxidase (COX), an indi cator of neuronal activity, is increased in several brain regions from chro nic, medicated schizophrenics. In the present study, to address the functio nal significance of those findings, Dopamine D2 receptor density in the put amen, measured with [H-3]raclopride, was elevated in schizophrenic as compa red to controls, as were Kd values. In contrast to COX activity, D2 recepto r binding was moderately, but significantly positively correlated with inte llectual impairment (r = 0.64; p <.05) but not with motor impairment. Resul ts expose a unique anomaly in the effects of neuroleptics in terms of incre asing neuronal signaling in the putamen, which may underlie a reversal of c ognitive deficits in schizophrenics, while at the same time, elevating D2 r eceptor density that seems to be detrimental. [neuropsychopharmacology 22:2 84-292, 2000] (C) 2000 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Publish ed by Elsevier Science Inc.have measured COX activity in a group of schizop hrenics in whom antemortem geriatric measures of motor, intellectual, and e motional impairment had been assessed. COX activity ill the putamen was str ongly negatively correlated with emotional (r = -.76; p <.005) and intellec tual impairment (r = -0.76; p <.005), but not with motor impairment (r = 0. 01). No significant correlations could be found in the frontal cortex, thal amus, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, mesencephalon, or nucleus accumbens .