[Brain synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia].

A qualitative and quantitative electron microscopic study was performed. in some postmortem brain structures of the dopaminergic system: the substantia nigra, ventral tegmentum area, prefrontal cortex (area 10), anterior cingulate cortex (area 24), the head of the caudate nucleus in schizophrenia and age-matched controls without mental disorders. The study revealed the heterogeneity of ultrastructural changes in synaptic ultrastructure and organization in schizophrenia as compared to controls. There was an anomalous sprouting of axons and a trend to increase the numerical density of axospinous synapses and to decrease axodendritic synapses in the schizophrenic brains due to disontogenesis or anomalous synaptic plasticity. No correlations with neuroleptic treatment were found. Synaptic plasticity might be involved in the pathophysiology and clinical symptoms of schizophrenic patients.