Project Summary

Kent C. Harris, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2006) of Huntington Medical Research Institute, will use a brain-imaging technique to study the role of glial dysfunction in schizophrenia. Dr. Harris has evidence that a significant reduction in glutamate neurotransmission in schizophrenia does not involve the brain’s neurons, but instead involves the glia. Since several known genetic markers of schizophrenia regulate glial, rather than neuronal, aspects of glutamate metabolism, Dr. Harris will correlate his findings of glial glutamate dysfunction with the presence or absence of the relevant genetic marker in patients. The principal method he plans to use is ¹³C Acetate Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), a noninvasive, nonradioactive techniquethat selectively measures glial glutamate metabolism in the intact brain. Small amounts of ¹³C acetate will be given to subjects with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Subjects will lie in an MRI scanner and ¹³C MRS will be applied. Blood samples will be taken for microarray genetic analysis. Results could provide candidates for the next generation of neuroleptic drug therapy for the disorder.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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