Posted by Jeroen on November 26, 2015, at 17:08:46
Hi there, this was published in 2013
the link is: http://knowingneurons.com/2013/06/03/genetic-tricks-to-reverse-schizophrenic-symptoms/
Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) is a gene that helps regulate synaptic plasticity, and mutations in NRG-1 have been found in patients with schizophrenia. Researchers have found that the prefrontal cortex expresses much higher levels of NRG-1 in humans with schizophrenia. Because of this, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia developed a genetically modified mouse that also expressed abnormally high levels of NRG-1 in the brain. Surprisingly, these mice had many of the same symptoms observed in humans with schizophrenia: hyperactivity, slow learning and memory lapse. The researchers were then able to use a genetic trick to control the levels of NRG-1 in the brain by administering an antibiotic called doxycycline. In this way, the mice developed from birth with increased NRG-1 levels and developed schizophrenia-like behaviors. Then, when the mice were adult, the researchers gave doxycycline to the mice and lowered the NRG-1 brain levels back to normal. Amazingly, when NRG-1 levels were restored in adulthood, the schizophrenia-like symptoms were gone! Reducing NRG-1 brain levels rescued the behavioral deficits in the mice and restored proper synaptic function.
poster:Jeroen
thread:1084214
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20151119/msgs/1084214.html