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Biomedical subjects

W F Gattaz

Publications and source records attributed to W F Gattaz.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Effects of haloperidol on somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the CSF of Schizophrenic patients.

The levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 14 schizophrenic patients before and after 3 weeks on haloperidol treatment. Baseline levels of SLI correlated negatively with psychopathological items on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale related to psychotic productivity. SLI levels increased after haloperidol treatment, but this increase did not correlate with psychopathological improvement. A difference in the ratio of larger and smaller molecular forms of the peptide was found before and after treatment. The drug-free samples showed a preponderance of the larger molecular forms, resulting in a ratio of 4:1, whereas the haloperidol-treated samples showed an equal distribution of both species.

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PubMed1986

Molecular size distribution of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with degenerative brain disease.

The molecular size distribution of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with brain disease was investigated by separation with a Sephadex G-25 superfine column and subsequent radioimmunoassay of the eluate. Marked heterogeneity of SLI in the CSF of control subjects as well as in demented patients, was observed. Controls and schizophrenics exhibited an SLI distribution pattern consisting mainly of two pronounced peaks: the first eluting with the void volume of the column; the second being compatible with a peptide of N-terminally extended somatostatin-14. SLI from the CSF of patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), multi-infarct dementia (MID) and normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) showed the same two peaks found in controls and schizophrenics; and in addition, a third peak co-eluting with somatostatin-14. However, this peak was more pronounced in patients with SDAT and MID than in patients with NPH. Re-chromatography of G-25 sf void volume immunoreactivity afforded two fractions of an apparent molecular weight of about 10,000 daltons and 15,500 daltons, respectively.

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PubMed1985

Multidimensional analysis of the concentrations of 17 substances in the CSF of schizophrenics and controls.

The concentrations of 17 substances were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 28 paranoid schizophrenic patients and 16 controls. Results were standardized and simultaneously evaluated through Multidimensional Scaling (MDS). The full data set can be considered as a cloud of points consisting of the 44 subjects in the 17-dimensional parameter space. MDS seeks a two-dimensional representation of this 17-dimensional cloud of points, while retaining as much as possible the distances between the subjects. The two-dimensional reduction of the 17 CSF parameters correctly separated 15 of 16 controls from the schizophrenic subjects. This indicates that a biological heterogeneity between schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic subjects can be detected by the simultaneous analysis of the CSF concentrations of substances related directly or indirectly to the neuronal activity in the brain.

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PubMed1985

Increased CSF cortisol levels after neuroleptic treatment in schizophrenia.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of cortisol was determined in schizophrenic patients drug-free and on neuroleptics, compared to healthy controls, and in schizophrenics before and during neuroleptic treatment. Neuroleptics significantly increased the CSF concentrations of cortisol in these patients.

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PubMed1985

Vasopressin--oxytocin in cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients and normal controls.

Vasopressin and oxytocin seem to be involved in the processes of learning and memory in animals and probably in man. These peptides appear to have opposite effects in that vasopressin improves memory processes and oxytocin produces amnestic effects. We measured these neuropeptides in the cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients with and without neuroleptic treatment, psychiatrically healthy controls and drug-free patients before and after three weeks' neuroleptic treatment. There were no significant differences in vasopressin concentrations between schizophrenics and controls. No influence of neuroleptic treatment on vasopressin concentrations was detected. In contrast, concentrations of oxytocin were increased in all schizophrenic patients and were higher in those receiving neuroleptic treatment. In addition, oxytocin concentrations increased after three weeks' neuroleptic treatment. Drug-induced increase of oxytocin concentrations may be of significance in the clinically observed amnestic syndromes and debilitation in schizophrenics treated with neuroleptics.

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PubMed1984

Melatonin immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.

Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland. Its involvement in various psychiatric and somatic diseases has been suggested. We investigated melatonin in cerebrospinal fluid of 16 healthy controls, 15 paranoid schizophrenics being treated with neuroleptics, and 13 unmedicated paranoid schizophrenics. There were no significant differences in melatonin concentrations among these three groups. No significant correlations were found between melatonin concentrations and various other biochemical substances such as noradrenalin, cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate, prolactin, and cortisol. These negative results do not support the suggestion that melatonin is involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. However, other possibilities, e.g., a change of biological rhythms and its influence on other neuroendocrine functions, may be of importance.

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PubMed1984

Low angiotensin-converting enzyme activity (kininase II) in cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenics.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (kininase II, E. C., 3.4.15.1) activity was present in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of paranoid schizophrenic patients and psychiatrically healthy controls. Both schizophrenics under neuroleptic treatment and drug-free patients had low cerebrospinal enzyme activity when compared with controls. No correlation existed with the scores of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. A negative correlation of enzyme activity with cerebrospinal levels of both dopamine and noradrenaline was detected. Our findings suggest the possibility of a central alteration of the metabolism of neuropeptides in paranoid schizophrenia.

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PubMed1984

Haloperidol increases the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of cyclic GMP in schizophrenic patients.

The concentration of cyclic guanosine 3',5' monophosphate (cGMP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is supposed to reflect central cholinergic activity. Earlier findings in the literature of decreased CSF concentrations of cGMP in drug-free schizophrenic patients accorded with the hypothesis of a cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance in schizophrenia, with a relative dominance of dopaminergic activity. In the present study, treatment with haloperidol for 3 weeks significantly increased the CSF concentration of cGMP in 14 of 18 schizophrenics. This finding suggests that haloperidol and possibly other antipsychotic drugs might restore the cholinergic-dopaminergic balance in schizophrenia through central cholinergic stimulation in addition to the blockade of dopaminergic receptors.

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PubMed1983

Phenylethylamine and phenylacetic acid in CSF of schizophrenics and healthy controls.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) is an endogenous substance with amphetamine-like stimulant properties. On the basis of this ability an abnormal brain PEA metabolism has been proposed as an etiological factor in some forms of schizophrenia. In the present study 28 schizophrenic patients and 15 healthy controls were investigated. No significant difference from control values was found in PEA concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of either untreated of neuroleptic-treated schizophrenics. However, 2 schizophrenics with highest BPRS scores had extremely high PES concentrations. Free phenylacetic acid (PAA), the major metabolite of PEA, was significantly decreased in ummedicated but not in drug-treated schizophrenics. Because of the assumed neuromodulatory properties of PEA, it is suggested that lowered PAA concentrations and the tendency for PEA to be elevated may imply that altered central neurotransmission occurs in certain forms of schizophrenia.

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PubMed1983

Phenylethylamine and monoamine metabolites in CSF of schizophrenics: effects of neuroleptic treatment.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and the monoamine metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) have been measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of nine paranoid schizophrenics before and after three weeks of neuroleptic treatment. Patients were classified according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria and rated by means of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. A significant increase was seen in HVA CSF concentrations during neuroleptic treatment (p less than 0.01). No influence was found on levels of PEA, 5-HIAA, and MHPG. Concentrations of both MHPG and 5-HIAA correlated positively with those of HVA. These results in combination with previous findings do not support the contention that PEA and NA metabolisms are grossly disturbed in paranoid schizophrenics whereas involvement of other neurotransmitters i.e. dopamine, seems more probable.

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PubMed1983

Dopamine and noradrenalin in the cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients.

Concentrations of both dopamine (DA) and noradrenalin (NA) were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenic patients with and without neuroleptic treatment and in healthy controls. No significant differences were found between unmedicated patients and controls for either DA or NA. Patients receiving neuroleptics showed significantly higher levels of both DA and NA in the CSF. These results suggest that the reported findings of increased NA in the CSF and increased DA and NA in the brain of schizophrenic patients could be due, at least in part, to the effects of neuroleptic drugs.

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PubMed1983

Low CSF concentrations of cyclic GMP in schizophrenia.

Increasing evidence suggests that the concentrations of cyclic guanosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cGMP) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may reflect central cholinergic activity. When the concentrations of this nucleotide in the CSF from 28 schizophrenic patients (13 without and 15 with neuroleptic treatment) and 16 psychiatrically healthy controls was determined the schizophrenics showed significantly lower CSF levels of cGMP as compared to controls. As dopamine and homovanillic acid concentrations were not altered in these CSF samples, this finding of reduced cGMP suggests a cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance in schizophrenia, with a reduction of the former and consequently a relative dominance of the latter.

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PubMed1982

Glutamate in schizophrenics and healthy controls.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glutamate levels were measured in 28 paranoid schizophrenic patients and 15 healthy individuals. From the 28 patients 15 were treated with neuroleptic drugs and 13 did not take any drugs. No significant difference was found between glutamate in patients without neuroleptics and controls. However, CSF glutamate was significantly higher in patients taking neuroleptics than in controls (P less than 0.001) or in patients without neuroleptics (P less than 0.01). This and other data from the literature indicate that enhanced levels of cerebral glutamate may be significant for the antipsychotic efficacy of neuroleptic drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

CSF monoamine metabolites in schizophrenic patients.

The monoamine metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 16 psychiatrically health controls and in 28 schizophrenic patients. There was no difference in CSF MHPG and HVA levels between the group of patients and the controls. CSF levels of 5-HIAA were significantly lower in schizophrenic patients than in controls. Differential analysis of patients with and without neuroleptics revealed that these findings were not due to drug treatment. Positive correlations were found between the level of 5-HIAA and the items: hallucinatory behaviour, grandiosity, and tension as rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. As 5-HIAA CSF data are controversial for nosological entities, the search for correlations between 5-HIAA and individual psychopathological variables could provide more specific indices for psychiatric diagnosis, treatment or prophylaxis.

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