Increased density of glutamate/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in superior temporal cortex in schizophrenia

Saturable radioligand binding of [H-3]L-689,560 to the glycine site of the N-methyl-(D)-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was determined bilaterally in superi or temporal cortex (BA22) and prefrontal cortex (BA10) taken post mortem fr om patients with schizophrenia and matched control subjects. A significant increase in NMDA receptor density above control values was found bilaterall y in BA22 in schizophrenia, but not in BA10. The effect was greatest in tho se patients described as primarily type II, in whom the effect was signific antly lateralized, with a greater elevation in the left hemisphere. A signi ficant decrease in NMDA receptor density was found in rat frontal cortex fo llowing chronic antipsychotic drug administration, indicating that prior dr ug treatment was unlikely to have contributed to the differences in schizop hrenia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.