Involvement of the Intracellular Signal Integrating Proteins Calcyon and Spinophilin - Essay Example

Clinton, S. M., Ph.D., Ibrahim, H. M., M.D., Frey, K. A., M.D., Ph.D., Davis, K. L., M.D., Haroutunian, V. Ph.D., and Meador-Woodruff, J. H., M.D. Dopaminergic Abnormalities in Select Thalamic Nuclei in Schizophrenia: Involvement of the Intracellular Signal Integrating Proteins Calcyon and Spinophilin. American Journal of Psychiatry 2005; 162: 1859-1871 1.AbstractThis research examined the question of whether molecular dysfunction was significant with regard to dopamine receptors and their connection to certain proteins.

Researchers attempted to discover the impact of neurotransmissions in the thalamus of schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic cases, contending that abnormalities were possibly a result of molecular dysfunction. They studied 21 sample cases, thirteen of which had been medically confirmed as schizophrenic and using brains taken from the Mount Sinai Brain Bank. The same samples had been used in their earlier thalamic research. Using in situ hybridization and audiography, they looked at thalamic expression, binding to receptors, monoaminergic innervation, and dopamine eceptor- associated with intracellular proteins (calcyon, spinophilin and DARPP-32)"Results showed that calcyon and spinophilin transcripts were significantly higher in the thalamus of patients with schizophrenia.

They concluded that, as discovered in other research, the dopamine system shows as abnormal in schizophrenia cases, but these abnormalities were due to intracellular integration where dopamine signaling with other neurotransmitter systems was dysfunctional, So it is not only the action of dopamine agonists or antagonists which impact, but the cellular activity which contributes to the illness.CritiqueThis scientific piece of writing encompasses so many areas of medical knowledge that it demands several readings to make sense of each point.

However, it is fully detailed and demonstrates how the researchers used a stringent methodology, adhered to ethical and confidential practice and met their objective, as evidenced by the findings. It just seemed to take a long time and a great deal of narrative to produce the relevant information. They were honest as to limitations identified, such as age and antipsychotic drug use, the latter of which might have affected results, though this was considered unlikely. By incorporating findings from their own and others' earlier studies, they added weight and credibility to both the question and the results.

The sample size was not very 2.large, seemingly chosen on the basis of their earlier work on glutamate receptor activity in the schizophrenic thalamus. Given the importance and implication of the findings here on eurochemical disturbances in thalamic circuitsand possible molecular abnormalities, the need for further research should be stated or recommended more forcefully, with some signposting as to benefits of such research. The article clarifies the abnormality of intracellular integration in theschizophrenic thalamus and that this is not only due to activation of D receptors, but to how the proteins calcyon and spinophilin affect signalling.

Study of the article goes some way to increase understanding of the areas under discussion, but extracting this knowledge is not easy, due to the continual use of over-complicated and long sentences. While referral to animal studies and other research adds support, it was at times confusing, serving to divert from the cases in hand (see p. 1867-1868). What really makes it 'work' though, are the graphics and the Results section as a whole; the explanations given for each table and figure are excellent in highlighting the relevant information and clarifying the narrative.

After absorbing the material, one would know more about the differences in the thalamus, the manner in which proteins and dopamine interact, and the abnormalities between normal and schizophrenic brains.A sound anatomical knowledge of the brain, limbic and nervous systems would definitely help understanding, enabling the language to be easily related to and interpreted. So too, would recognition of the importance of chemical activity (neurotransmitters, i.e. neuropeptides), the role of receptors, what they impact on and how they support or impede the body's systems all these provide a good knowledge basis to work from.

Basic cellular biology and endocrinology too, would be good background in helping not only to understand the research study but the over arching facts as to how the chemical interactions determine the wellness or otherwise of both psychological and physiological functioning. Such understanding helps in extracting the important facts of the study regarding the differences between brains of those with and without schizophrenia.