Neuropathological studies of brain tissue in schizophrenia.
Postmortem neuropathological investigations in the last half decade provide increasing evidence compatible with a neurodevelopmental defect in schizophrenia. Basic and clinical data support hypotheses suggesting that disturbances in neurodevelopment in schizophrenia may involve the cortical subplate and a theorized second trimester "window of vulnerability". The focus of this paper is on (1) selected methodological issues involved in the collection, analyses and preservation of human postmortem brain tissue; (2) a review of evidence showing morphological defects particularly in prefrontal cortical regions of the schizophrenic brain; and (3) potential future research directions.
Bunney
B G
BG
California College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717, USA.
Potkin
S G
SG
Bunney
W E
WE
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology