GSK-3 parameters in postmortem frontal cortex and hippocampus of schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The protein kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is highly abundant in brain and involved in signal transduction cascades, particularly during neurodevelopment. We have previously found reduced GSK-3beta mRNA levels, protein levels and GSK-3 total (alpha+beta isoforms) activity in postmortem frontal cortex of schizophrenic patients in the Stanley Medical Research Institute's Brain Collection. To verify and extend these findings, GSK-3 parameters were now measured in the frontal cortex (BA9) and hippocampus obtained from the Rebecca L. Cooper Research Laboratories postmortem brain collection. Fifteen pairs of schizophrenic patients and matched control subjects have been studied. No signi..