Decreased neurotrophic response to birth hypoxia in the etiology of schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obstetric complications, particularly fetal hypoxia, are associated with increased risk for schizophrenia later in life. Such factors are also related to increased severity of certain neuropathological features of schizophrenia, including hippocampal and cortical gray matter reduction, among individuals with a genetic susceptibility to the disorder. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations are unknown. Here, we sought to determine whether neurotrophic factors, which are stimulated as part of a neuroprotective response to fetal distress, are differentially expressed in cord blood samples at the time of birth following fetal hypoxia, maternal hypertension/small for gestational age status, and/or prematurity among individuals who developed schizophren

SUBMITTER: Cannon TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2655104 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature