Abnormal phosphatidylinositol-cycle of platelet membrane in schizophrenia--a preliminary study.

Phosphatidylinositol (PI)-cycle in the platelet membrane was examined in eight untreated patients with psychotic symptoms. A defect of PI-cycle in the transformation from 1,2-diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid was found in three patients, who were diagnosed as having Schizophrenic Disorders or Schizophreniform Disorder according to the DSM-III criteria. Two out of the three patients were reexamined while undergoing neuroleptic medication, and they showed the same abnormality in PI-cycle. Further studies were required to determine the nature of the abnormality in PI-cycle in the platelets of schizophrenics.