Neurobiological and genetic markers in schizophrenia: a theoretical replication using the Allen Institute for Brain Sciences online database
Graduation Date
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Academic Research, 2012
Committee Chair Name
Ethan Gahtan
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Psychology, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Neurodevelopmental disorder, RGS4, Psychiatric disease, Schizophrenia, COMT
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disease that affects 1% of the human population, and is characterized as a strongly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder. Genome wide association studies have identified altered expression of dopamine-related genes such as Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 4 and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase to be linked with the occurrence of schizophrenia. Furthermore, altered neuronal organization and neural connectivity within the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex has been associated with the disease, however no specific biomarker has been identified, and pathogenesis of the disease remains extremely obscure. The Allen Institute for Brain Science's Human Brain Atlas is an online resource that provided Colorimetric in situ hybridization and Nissl stained images, for the current analysis. The current study used the Human Brain Atlas to compare schizophrenic and control tissue specimen on the schizophrenia-linked characteristics: neuronal cell density, Catechol-O-Methlytransferase, and Regulator of G-Protein signaling 4 expression in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex. The current analysis hypothesized that there would be decreased RGS4, COMT and neuronal density within the DLPFC of patients with schizophrenia. It was also hypothesized that there would be differences in gene expression and neuronal density when comparing between the subgroups: Gender, Ethnicity, and Smoking status. The analysis of these schizophrenia-linked characteristics did not yield significant results, and patterns in gene expression or neuronal density between or within subgroups was not found. Due to the inconsistent findings of past literature in combination with this study, it is strongly warranted that new techniques are run in parallel with postmortem analysis in order to delineate the complex etiology of schizophrenia.
Recommended Citation
Gallander, Kristen, "Neurobiological and genetic markers in schizophrenia: a theoretical replication using the Allen Institute for Brain Sciences online database" (2012). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1299.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1299
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/0k225d56v