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Increased expression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT‐1 in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics
Author(s) -
Matute Carlos,
Melone Marcello,
VallejoIllarramendi Ainara,
Conti Fiorenzo
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.20119
Subject(s) - prefrontal cortex , glutamatergic , glutamate receptor , biology , neuroscience , immunocytochemistry , cortex (anatomy) , endocrinology , transporter , medicine , messenger rna , excitatory amino acid transporter , biochemistry , gene , receptor , cognition
To verify whether altered glial glutamate uptake contributes to the reduced efficacy of glutamatergic transmission reported in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics, we studied the expression of GLT‐1, the transporter responsible for most glutamate transport, in autoptic samples of prefrontal cortex using real time quantitative RT‐PCR, immunocytochemistry, and functional assays. GLT‐1 mRNA levels in medication‐free patients were 2.5‐fold higher than in controls, whereas they were normal or reduced in patients treated with antipsychotics. We also observed a 4‐fold increase in L‐[ 3 H]‐Glu uptake in Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA from the prefrontal cortex of a medication‐free schizophrenic and a 2‐fold increase in GLT‐1 protein in the same cortical area of another medication‐free patient. Results suggest that GLT‐1 mRNA, protein and function are increased in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.