Markers of glutamate synaptic transmission and plasticity are increased in the anterior cingulate cortex in bipolar disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cortical glutamate levels are elevated in bipolar disorder, but the interpretation of this increase is unclear because glutamate has metabolic as well as neurotransmitter roles. We investigated this by measuring vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGluT1) expression, which reflects activity at glutamate synapses. We also measured netrin-G1 and netrin-G2 messenger RNAs because these genes are involved in the formation and plasticity of glutamatergic connections.

Methods

Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we quantified transcripts for VGluT1, netrin-G1 (isoforms G1c, G1d, and G1f), and netrin-G2 in the anterior cingulate cortex from subjects with bipolar disorder (n = 34), schizophrenia (n = 35), and healthy control subjects (n = 35).

Results

Vesicu

SUBMITTER: Eastwood SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2868790 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature