[Association between uptake to lymphocytes from schizophrenic patients and therapeutic efficacy]

Using Le Fur's methods, 3H-spiperone binding was measured in lymphocytes from normal control persons. Although the haloperidol displaceable component of 3H-spiperone binding was present in intact lymphocytes, 3H-spiperone binding was not saturable over a wide range of ligand concentrations. It is suggested that this binding is associated with the degree of 3H-spiperone concentration transported into the lymphocytes. 3H-spiperone uptake to lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients (n = 10, including for chlorpromazine responders) and in normal control persons (n = 10) was measured. The 3H-spiperone uptake of schizophrenic patients was significantly higher than that of normal control persons. Especially in three out of the four chlorpromazine responders, 3H-spiperone uptake was much higher than in the rest of the schizophrenic patients. 3H-spiperone uptake of schizophrenic patients was independent of the daily medicational dosages. The 3H-spiperone uptake to the lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients seemed to be related to the therapeutic efficacy of the neuroleptics.