Contents of endogenous phencyclidine-like substances in cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients

The contents of endogenous phencyclidine-like substances (EPS) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenic and ataxic patients were measured by a radioligand assay. The CSF of 10 schizophrenic patients and 10 non-schizophrenic patients (control group) suffering from peripheral neuritis. myelopathy. muscleatrophy of the limbs and serious migraines were run through a Sephadex G-25 fine column. Fractions 17-19 were pooled and lyophilized for radioligaid assayirg. The results showed that the average content of EPS in CSF of schizophrenic patients was 187 pmol/ml CSF, avalue, Nhich was lower than that of the control group (492 pmol/ml CSF. p<0.01). The average content of the EPS (1159 pmol/ml CSF) in the CSF of 2 deteriorated patients and the average content of the EPS (1422 pmol/ml CSF) in the CSF of 2 ataxic patients were markedly higher than that of the control group (p<0.01). This suggests that EPS may be involved in the pathophysiological process in schizophrenia and that it may play a role in locomotion.