Decreased serotonin(2a) receptors in brodmann's area 9 from schizophrenic subjects. A pathological or pharmacological phenomenon?

Abstract

There have been repeated reports of a decrease in serotonin(2A) receptors in the frontal cortex from subjects with schizophrenia. Similarly, in rats treated with antipsychotic drugs, it has been shown that many antipsychotic drugs decrease cortical serotonin(2A) receptors, an affect not seen with the antipsychotic drug haloperidol. We therefore compared the density of serotonin(2A) receptors in frontal cortex from schizophrenic subjects treated with haloperidol, schizophrenic subjects treated with other antipsychotic drugs, and nonschizophrenic subjects. Independent of antipsychotic drug treatment, serotonin(2A) receptors were decreased in the frontal cortex from schizophrenic subjects. Impo..