Receptors in Brain Linked to Schizophrenia, Autism

Loss of a major receptor within a group of critical inhibitory neurons could be linked with the development of autism, schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. A new study conducted by the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, suggests that the mGluR5 receptor is a major player in the parvalbumin-positive interneurons, and that tampering with its development led to behavioral deficits in mice, which resembled symptoms of the most common developmental conditions. “We found that without this receptor in the parvalbumin cells, mice have many serious behavioral deficits,” said the lead researcher of the study. “And a lot of them really mimic closely what we see in schizophrenia. The cells are still alive, and if we can figure out how to go in and change some of these molecular switches, we might actually be able to put the cells back into healthy, functioning states.” To learn more about this study, click here.