Project Summary

Michael W. Vogel, Ph.D. (Independent Investigator 2000) of Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, will study the nature and localization of anatomic and neurochemical abnormalities that may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.  Previous studies have demonstrated dysfunction of “limbic” cortical regions of the brain, including the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and anterior cingulate in patients with schizophrenia. Dr. Vogel will pair anatomic and neurochemical measures to analyze postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia in these brain regions and in the thalamus. The study will analyze markers for nerve cell structure and neurotransmitter systems in these brain regions. It is hypothesized that there will be a reduction in the activity of the glutamate hippocampal signals from the hippocampus to its projection areas; this abnormality is believed to be related to delusions and hallucinations in schizophrenia. It is further hypothesized that these neurochemical abnormalities will be present in the same neurons which have altered density of synapses (the connections between nerve cells) and dendrites (the neuronal structures which receive signals from other neurons.) This work has implications for understanding the biological mechanisms that underlie the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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