Volume 11 Issue 3, March 2006

The apoptosis cascade shows increases (red) and decreases (blue) in the expression of specific genes in the hippocampus of schizophrenics (left) and bipolars (right). Top: In the schizophrenic group, there is an overall down-regulation of the apoptosis cascade, whereas bipolars show an upregulation of multiple pro-apoptotic genes, such as granzyme B, caspase 8, BAX and c-Myc are down regulated in the schizophrenic group. Anti-oxidant genes, such as superoxide dysmutase (SOD), catalase and GSH peroxidase, are significantly down-regulated in BDs suggesting that accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as O₂⁻ and decreased mitochondrial electron transport activity 3 might contribute to neuronal dysfunction in BDs. The L-type voltage-gated calcium channel 1D is also upregulated in bipolars, but down regulated in schizophrenics, changes that would promote apoptotic injury, while those in schizophrenics would promote cell survival. For more information on this topic please refer to article by Benes et al. on pages 241–251.