Project Summary

Pierre Lavenex, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of University of California at Davis, proposes using microarray technology in primates to study the genes expressed during the development of the hippocampus, abnormalities in which have been implicated in autism and schizophrenia. The hippocampus undergoes substantial maturational changes through infant and juvenile life, and early insult to these changing structures results in abnormal brain development and altered function of distant neural systems, such as the prefrontal cortex, in adulthood. Dr. Lavenex hypothesizes that brain development is particularly sensitive soon after to birth to abnormal gene expression. In his study with rhesus monkeys, he will analyze multiple gene expression in five defined areas of the hippocampus at three different ages (1-day old, 6 months old and 6 to 12 years old). The identification of genes temporally regulated during normal brain development should help to understand what goes awry in neuropsychiatric disease. Rhesus monkeys are a good model animal because of their close relationship to humans.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\Autism/Schizophrenia

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