Cytochemical determination of monoamine oxidase activity in lymphocytes and neutrophils of schizophrenic patients.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was determined cytochemically in peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils of 14 schizophrenic patients and normal controls. The cytochemical method of Glenner modified for smear preparations was utilized. Schizophrenic patients show a tendency to express a lower percentage of MAO-positive neutrophils as compared to the non-schizophrenic controls. This biochemical difference in schizophrenic patients needs further clarification.