Polymorphisms in the genes for mGluR types 7 and 8: association studies with schizophrenia

A dysfunctional glutamatergic system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The group III metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) types 7 and 8 presynaptically inhibit glutamate release, thereby modulating glutamatergic transmission in the brain. We conducted association studies to investigate the novel Tyr433Phe (mGluR7) variant and the 2846-C/T (mGluR8) polymorphism in schizophrenia. Both variants, present at high frequencies, failed to demonstrate any significant association with schizophrenia (mGluR7 [Tyr433Phe] allele: P=0.33; genotype: P=0.63; mGluR8 [2846-C/T] allele: P=0.72; genotype: P=0.63).