Synapsins are synaptic vesicle-associated phosphoproteins and are thought t
o play crucial roles in synaptogenesis and neurotransmitter release. Synapt
ic abnormalities have been reported in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
. In addition, the synapsin III gene, a member of the synapsin gene family,
has been located at 22q12-13, which has been suggested as a potential susc
eptibility locus for schizophrenia. We investigated a genetic association b
etween schizophrenia and the synapsin III gene polymorphisms (-631C/G and -
196G/A) in 160 schizophrenic patients and 153 controls. No significant posi
tive association between either polymorphism and schizophrenia was observed
. Furthermore, no significant association was observed between either polym
orphism and the diagnostic subtypes. Our results suggested that the synapsi
n III gene polymorphisms do not confer increased susceptibility to schizoph
renia. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.