Project Summary

Rene Anand, Ph.D. (Independent Investigator 2005) of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, aims to study in an animal model the regulation by two neuronal proteins of the brain’s nicotinic receptors, activity in which affects schizophrenia symptoms. It has been hypothesized that heavy smoking by schizophrenics may be a form of self-medication because the nicotine acts via the nicotinic receptors to alleviate symptoms. In this study, the researchers plan to test in animal model of schizophrenia, created by injecting the animal with phenycyclidine (PCP), whether expression of the genes for two neuronal proteins that regulate the most common nicotinic receptor are altered in specific brain regions; whether corresponding changes in the expression of the most common nicotinic receptor also occurs in those specific brain regions; and whether nicotine affects the nicotinic receptor expression. Findings may help identify new drug targets and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\Nicotine

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