Cerebrospinal fluid D-serine and glycine concentrations are unaltered and unaffected by olanzapine therapy in male schizophrenic patients

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008 May;18(5):333-8. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2007.12.002. Epub 2008 Feb 7.

Abstract

N-Methyl D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor hypofunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and D-serine and glycine add-on therapy to antipsychotics has shown beneficial effects in schizophrenic patients. Nevertheless, previous studies have not shown consistently altered D-serine concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenic patients. To confirm and extend these results, CSF concentrations of both endogenous NMDA-receptor co-agonists d-serine and glycine and their common precursor L-serine were analyzed simultaneously in 17 healthy controls and 19 schizophrenic patients before and 6 weeks after daily olanzapine (10 mg) treatment. CSF D-serine, L-serine and glycine concentrations and their relative ratios were similar between schizophrenic patients and controls and no differences were observed before and after olanzapine therapy. Thus, the NMDA-receptor hypofunction hypothesis in schizophrenia is not explained by olanzapine therapy-dependent absolute or relative decreases in CSF D-serine and glycine concentrations in this series of male patients, thereby not providing convenient markers for the disorder.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzodiazepines / therapeutic use*
  • Glycine / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Olanzapine
  • Schizophrenia / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Serine / cerebrospinal fluid*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Serine
  • Olanzapine
  • Glycine