Validity of plasma factor in schizophrenia as measured by tryptophan uptake

Biol Psychiatry. 1975 Jun;10(3):303-14.

Abstract

The uptake of L-tryptophan by chicken erythrocytes is stimulated by the presence of human plasma; however, there is no difference between the stimulation caused by plasmas of normal, chronic hospitalized nonschizophrenic, or chronic hospitalized schizophrenic subjects. Human plasma in general contains a complement-dependent antibody which reacts with an antigen present in the membrane of chicken erythrocytes resulting in hemolysis. Hemolysis can be maintained at a constant level by certain concentrations of Ca++ ion, the addition of which resulted in a gradual increase in tryptophan uptake. The calcium effect is probably due to the fact that the metal acts as a cofactor or modifier of component(s) of plasma causing higher uptake. The data indicate that hemolysis is not determining uptake of tryptophan by chicken erythrocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alpha-Globulins / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Chickens
  • Complement System Proteins
  • Edetic Acid / pharmacology
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism*
  • Guinea Pigs / immunology
  • Hemolysis* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / blood
  • Mental Disorders / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasma / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / blood*
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Tryptophan / metabolism*

Substances

  • Alpha-Globulins
  • Tryptophan
  • Complement System Proteins
  • Edetic Acid
  • Calcium