Project Summary

Alaa El-Husseini, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2002) of University of British Columbia, is studying whether the dysfunction in communication between the glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems believed to result in schizophrenia is due to a disruption of signals between dopamine and glutamate receptors.  The dopamine system may alter glutamate signaling through protein receptor phosphorylation by protein kinases or through regulation of the number of synaptic glutamate receptors.  Dr. Husseini's major goal is to test the hypothesis that cross talk between dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurons is disrupted in animal models of schizophrenia.  He proposes experiments to elucidate the mechanism that may explain the hypoactivity of glutamatergic synapses detected in schizophrenic patients.  These experiments are timely since several drugs that regulate glutamate receptor activity can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms through an unknown mechanism.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\Mental Retardation

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