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Abstract
Kynurenic acid is an endogenous glutamate antagonist with a preferential action at
the glycine-site of the N-methyl D-aspartate-receptor. Mounting evidence indicate
that the compound is significantly involved in basal neurophysiological processes
in the brain. In the present investigation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level of kynurenic
acid was analyzed in 28 male schizophrenic patients and 17 male healthy controls by
means of high pressure liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. Schizophrenic
patients showed elevated CSF levels of kynurenic acid (1.67+/-0.27 nM) compared to
the control group (0.97+/-0.07 nM). Furthermore, CSF levels of kynurenic acid in schizophrenic
patients were also found to correlate with age. The present finding is indicative
of a contribution of kynurenic acid in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.