title: Neurodevelopmental involvement in schizophrenia: the olfactory epithelium as an alternative model for research.
abstract: It has been suggested that disturbances during neurodevelopment may play a crucial role in the etiology of schizophrenia (SZ). This premise is supported by brain imaging, epidemiological, and pathological studies as well as the discovery of susceptibility genes for SZ that appear to be implicated in development of the central nervous system. Here, we discuss the limitations of the current methods and models for studying the neurodevelopmental implications in SZ. We agree with the proposal that the olfactory epithelium, in which neurodevelopment continues throughout life, might represent an alternative model for understanding the pathophysiology of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. cascella@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Nicola G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Cascella
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takaki
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins