D-serine Serum Levels in Schizophrenia: Relation to Psychopathology

Czech version

Authors: J. Hons ¹; R. Žirko ¹; M. Ulrychová ²; Eva Čermáková ³; J. Libiger ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Psychiatrická klinika, LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové ; přednosta prof. MUDr. J. Libiger, CSc. Ústav klinické biochemie a diagnostiky, FN, Hradec Králové ¹; přednosta prof. MUDr. V. Palička, CSc. Ústav lékařské biofyziky LF UK, Hradec Králové ²; přednosta doc. Ing. J. Hanuš, CSc. ³
Published in: Čes. a slov. Psychiat., 104, 2008, No. 6, pp. 281-288.
Category: Original Article

Overview

The hypofunction of glutamatergic NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor is involved in pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Amino acid D-serine acts as endogenous co-agonist at the glycine modulatory site of the NMDA receptor. Significantly decreased D-serine serum levels were reported in patients with schizophrenia in comparison to healthy control subjects. Positive clinical effect of peripherally administered D-serine was demonstrated. D-serine improved positive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with first and second generation antipsychotics in the clinical studies. We did not find any significant association between D-serine serum level and the PANSS (The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and the SANS (The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms) total and subscales scores in the population of fifty patients with schizophrenia enrolled into the study. D-serine serum level had a strong trend to be lower among female as compared to male patients with schizophrenia. In the context of this finding, the role of gender in the glutamatergic dysfunction associated with schizophrenia deserves further attention.

Key words:
D-serine, NMDA receptor, schizophrenia, excitatory amino acids, glutamatergic neurotransmission.

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Article was published in

Czech and Slovak Psychiatry

2008 Issue 6