[An investigation on changes in blood CuZn-superoxide dismutase contents in type I, II schizophrenics]

Blood CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) changes during neuroleptic drugs treatment were measured by means of double-antibody immunoradiometric assay, in 121 schizophrenics (77 cases with Type I and 44 cases with Type II), and 128 normal subjects as control group. The results revealed: (1) before treatment, the overall blood content of CuZn-SOD in patient group showed higher significantly than that of control group (t = 12.34, P less than 0.001); (2) the content of CuZn-SOD in Type I schizophrenics was higher than that of Type II (t = 13.93, P less than 0.001); (3) after treatment, the CuZn-SOD content decreased obviously in Type I (t = 7.715, P less than 0.001), while no significant change in Type II was encountered (t = 0.541, P less than 0.05). The pathophysiological mechanisms of dopamine-Oxygen free radicals relating to the Type I and Type II schizophrenics was discussed briefly.