Project Summary

Frank I. Tarazi, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of McLean Hospital, is quantifying levels of a protein called reelin in the brains of juvenile, adolescent, and adult rats with experimentally-induced lesions in the hippocampus.  Reelin is responsible for the normal migration of brain neurons during development.   Previous work has shown diminished levels of reelin in autopsied brains of patients with schizophrenia.  Decreases in reelin have been associated with decreases in enzymes that metabolize glutamate, a key neurotransmitter.  These findings are particularly intriguing given that schizophrenia is proposed to result at least in part from abnormalities in fetal brain development.  This study will focus on three brain regions: the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum.  Additional experiments will examine the long-term effects of antipsychotic agents on levels of reelin and on enzymes involved in reelin metabolism.  This work may help stimulate new hypotheses on the role of reelin in schizophrenia.   

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\Child/Adolescent (Early Onset)\Pharmacology

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