Inorganic substances in encephalon tissues in schizophrenia.

Abstract

Summary Electrolyte contents in enecphalon of human being and animals were measured and led to the following results and conclusions. Subjects consisted of 33 cases of schizophrenia as the center, 3 of mania, 1 of depression, 6 of oligophrenia, and 2 of genuine epilepsy, besides dogs and rats. 1) In dog encephalon K content measured 381 mg% in the gray matter and 392 mg% in the white matter, Na content 164 mg% in the gray and 138 mg% in the white matter; Ca content 8.2 mg% in the gray matter and 7.3 mg% in the white matter and Mg content 15.2mg% in the gray and 16.0 mg% in the white matter. 2) In rat encephalon K content in the gray matter measured 405 mg%, Ca content 6.8 mg% in the gray and 6.9 mg% in the white matter and Mg content 13.5 mg% in the gray substance. 3) The ratio of Ca content in the gray matter to that in the white matter read 1.12 in dogs and 0.99 in rats, making an unignorable difference between the two. 4) The ratio of Mg content between the gray and white matter disclosed that in dogs as well as in rabbits Mg content stood higher in the white matter than in the gray. 5) In human encephalon of the control group, K amounted to 363 mg% in the gray matter and 274 mg% in the white one, Na to 145 mg% in the gray matter and 114 mg% in the white one, Ca to 7.9mg% in the gray matter and 9.3mg% in the white one and lastly Mg to 16.4mg% in the gray and 18.1 mg% in the white matter. 6) In encephalon of the schizophrenic group, K amounted now to 470mg% in the gray matter and 269mg% in the white matter, Na to 137mg% in the gray matter and 113mg% in the white one and Ca to 8.8mg% in the gray matter and 9.3mg% in the white, while Mg to 16.2 mg% in the gray and 18.0 mg% in the white matter. 7) To summarize, K content in the gray matter stood slightly higher in the schizophrenic group than in the control. The ratio of K content in the gray matter against that in the white underwent fluctuation more widely in the former as in the latter. 8) Ca ratio of the gray matter against the white matter came out higher in the schizophrenic group than in the control. 9) The control and the schizophrenic group did not differ in Mg content with each other. 10) In the schizophrenia. group a fluctuation was recognized concerning series of the ratios of K content in the gray matter against Ca in the white matter. 11) A balance between K content in the blood plasma and that in the gray matter went lost appreciably in the schizophrenic group. Finally, it was confirmed on the basis of those results that in the schizophrenic patients the unusual changes did occur in such electrolytes as K and Ca in encephalon and K in the blood plasma. in addition to this, those electrolytes are broken down by virtue of the enzymatic, biochemical and physiological chain reactions, consequently as to develop morbid change in encephalon. The essential parts of this article were already made public both at the fiftieth general meeting of Society of Neurology and Psychiatry of Japan in May, 1953 and at the general meeting of Tohoku Society of Neurology and Psychiatry in November, 1954. In closing this article the author wishes to express his heartful thanks to Prof. Dr. T. Kamimura who gave guidance and revised this article and Dr. T. Kojima who gave encouragement throughout his study.