title: Model generation and testing to probe neural circuitry in the cingulate cortex of postmortem schizophrenic brain.
abstract: In the past decade, there has been increased interest in whether discreet alterations of neural circuitry might play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In the absence of a readily identifiable histopathology, a variety of sophisticated neurobiological approaches is being applied to the study of this disorder. In one series of investigations, subtle abnormalities have been detected in the anterior cingulate cortex-layer II (ACCx-II) of schizophrenia patients. One of these studies suggested a reduction of nonpyramidal neurons in schizophrenia patients, and it was postulated that this change could give rise to a relative increase of dopaminergic inputs to the remaining gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) cells. Although empiric evidence in support of this hypothesis was obtained, a subsequent post hoc analysis, described in this report, has suggested that this change could have occurred irrespective of whether GABA cells are reduced in number. A shift of cortical dopamine afferents from pyramidal to nonpyramidal neurons in ACCx-II seems to provide a more plausible explanation for such a "miswiring." These findings support critical use of model generation and testing as powerful tools for unraveling the nature of altered neural circuitry in postmortem schizophrenic brain.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Structural Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02178, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Benes
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002452:Cell Count; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000503:physiopathology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000502:physiology; D012107:Research Design / Q000639:trends; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D018079:Receptors, GABA