title: Cell proliferation is reduced in the hippocampus in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The molecular and cellular basis of structural and functional abnormalities of the hippocampus found in schizophrenia is currently unclear. Postnatal neurogenesis contributes to hippocampal function in animal models and is correlated with hippocampal volume in primates. Reduced hippocampal cell proliferation has been previously reported in schizophrenia, which may contribute to hippocampal dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the cell proliferation marker, Ki67, in post-mortem hippocampal tissue from patients with schizophrenia (n = 10) and matched controls (n = 16). Ki67-labelled cells were counted within the dentate gyrus and hilus on sections taken from the anterior hippocampus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We replicated the finding of a significant reduction in Ki67+ cells/mm² in schizophrenia cases compared to controls (t24 = 2.1, p = 0.023). In our relatively small sample, we did not find a relationship between Ki67+ cells and age overall, or between Ki67 + cells and duration of illness or antipsychotic treatment in people with schizophrenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm that reduced hippocampal cell proliferation may be present in schizophrenia. Restoring hippocampal neurogenesis may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia c.weickert@neura.edu.au.
authors.forename: Cynthia Shannon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Weickert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen
keywords: Ki67; Neurogenesis; hippocampus; proliferation; schizophrenia