Serotonin₂ (5-HT₂) receptor binding in the frontal cortex of schizophrenic patients

Serotonin₂ (5-HT₂) receptor binding was studied, using³H-spiperone as the ligand, in post-mortem brain specimens obtained from schizophrenic patients (N=11) and non-psychiatric controls (N=11). The maximum number of binding sites (B_max) was significantly decreased in schizophrenic patients as compared to normal controls. This difference did not appear to be due to neuroleptic treatment. No difference in K_d (an inverse measure of the affinity of³H-spiperone to its binding sites) was observed between the two groups. However, studies with unmedicated schizophrenic patients are needed to draw any definite conclusion. The role of serotonergic processes in the psychobiology of schizophrenia is discussed.