Project Summary

Tim Karl, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2006) of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, plans to study how neuropeptide Y (NPY) influences the development of schizophrenia. Recent evidence suggests an NPY role in the disease because patients show reduced NPY levels in their central nervous system, antipsychotic treatment increases NPY levels, and a polymorphism in the promoter of the NPY gene seems to be associated with schizophrenia. Also, the main NPY receptor, Yl, is important in the pathophysiology of disorders associated with hyperactivity of dopaminergic pathwaysin aggression- and anxiety-related domains, and has an influence on the immune system. Dr. Karl aims to combine many strategies in schizophrenia-related behavioral phenotyping with common neuroscience methods, such as immunohistochemistry, to determine the impact of NPY and its main receptor, NPY Yl, on schizophrenia. Using a conditional genetic knockout animal model, the effect of environmental enrichment and drug treatment (cannabis/THC) will also be investigated.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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