Gene Could Hold Key to Schizophrenia

Deleting a single gene in the brains of mice caused their memories to be affected in way that resembled schizophrenia in humans, U.S. scientists report.

Before the gene was removed, the mice were trained to use external clues to look for chocolate treats buried in sand. But after being injected with a genetically engineered virus that deleted the NR1 gene, the mice were unable to learn a similar task.

The study, by a team from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, appears in the current issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

The NR1 gene codes for a part of a protein involved in passing signals between nerve cells used in learning and memory. When drugs are used to block a similar protein in humans, it results in a psychotic state similar to schizophrenia.

“We think that both our genetic rodent model, as well as a new learning and memory test we developed, may provide valuable tools in the investigation of schizophrenia,” study senior author Dr. Robert Greene, a professor of psychiatry, said in a prepared statement.

Dr. John Grohol is the founder & CEO of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 23 Jan 2006
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