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  • Title: Selective deficits in prefrontal cortical GABAergic neurons in schizophrenia defined by the presence of calcium-binding proteins.
    Author: Beasley CL, Zhang ZJ, Patten I, Reynolds GP.
    Journal: Biol Psychiatry; 2002 Oct 01; 52(7):708-15. PubMed ID: 12372661.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Postmortem studies have provided evidence for abnormalities of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system in schizophrenia, including deficits of GABA-containing interneurons. The calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin can be used as markers for specific subpopulations of cortical GABAergic interneurons. METHODS: Following our previous observation of a reduction in the density of parvalbumin- but not calretinin-immunoreactive cells in the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 10) in schizophrenia, we have quantified the laminar density of neurons immunoreactive for the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin in a further prefrontal cortical region (Brodmann area 9) in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and in matched control subjects (each group n = 15). RESULTS: Initial statistical analysis revealed reductions in the total cortical density of parvalbumin- and calbindin- but not calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in schizophrenia relative to control subjects. Further analysis comparing individual laminar densities between groups indicated that, following correction for multiple comparisons, only a reduction in calbindin-immunoreactive neurons in cortical layer II in the schizophrenic group attained statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that deficits of specific GABAergic neurons, defined by the presence of calcium-binding proteins, are present in schizophrenia. Trends toward similar reductions are observed in bipolar disorder.
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