Hoekstra R, Fekkes D, Pepplinkhuizen L, Loonen A J M, Tuinier S, Verhoeven W M A
Delta Psychiatric Centre, Poortugaal, The Netherlands.
Neuropsychobiology. 2006;54(1):75-81. doi: 10.1159/000096042. Epub 2006 Oct 5.
There is an increasing interest in the role of nitric oxide (NO) and pterines in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. The results so far show an inconsistent pattern.
In the present study, neopterin and a measure of NO synthesis in plasma of symptomatic and euthymic bipolar affective patients were compared to those of patients with a major depression and healthy controls. As an index of NO synthesis, the ratio of the amino acids citrulline and arginine (Cit-Arg ratio) was calculated. Neopterin is a bypass product in the synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, which is a cofactor of NO synthase.
The results indicate that both neopterin and the Cit-Arg ratio are decreased in bipolar affective patients, irrespective of their symptomatic status. In addition, an association between the values of the Cit-Arg ratio and the neopterin level was observed, which is suggestive for a low tetrahydrobiopterin activity.
NO formation may be endangered in bipolar affective disorder.
一氧化氮（NO）和蝶呤在神经精神疾病病理生理学中的作用日益受到关注。目前的研究结果呈现出不一致的模式。
在本研究中，将有症状和心境正常的双相情感障碍患者血浆中的新蝶呤及一氧化氮合成指标与重度抑郁症患者及健康对照者进行比较。作为一氧化氮合成的指标，计算氨基酸瓜氨酸和精氨酸的比值（瓜氨酸 - 精氨酸比值）。新蝶呤是四氢生物蝶呤合成中的旁路产物，而四氢生物蝶呤是一氧化氮合酶的辅因子。
结果表明，双相情感障碍患者无论其症状状态如何，新蝶呤和瓜氨酸 - 精氨酸比值均降低。此外，观察到瓜氨酸 - 精氨酸比值与新蝶呤水平之间存在关联，提示四氢生物蝶呤活性较低。
双相情感障碍中一氧化氮的生成可能受到损害。
