Frontal lobe pathology in schizophrenia : its pathogenesis and the development of the drug

采用基因芯片技术和定量聚合酶链反应（qPCR）技术研究了青春期前后大鼠前额叶皮层（PFC）基因表达的变化。与青春期前（PD35）相比，青春期后（PD56）大鼠PFC中分别有127和138个基因增加和减少。功能分析表明，这些基因与衰老，细胞发育和神经心理障碍有显着关联。qPCR分析证实了与髓鞘形成相关的七个基因的下调。据报道，这些基因在精神分裂症患者的大脑中减少，这项研究的结果表明，过度的成熟过程可能有助于精神障碍的发病机制。

Age-dependent changes of gene expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats around the time of puberty were investigated by means of microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). About 127 and 138 genes were increased and decreased, respectively, in the PFC of rats at post-puberty (PD56) compared with those at pre-puberty (PD35). Functional analysis showed significant associations of these genes with aging, cellular development, and neuropsychological disorders. qPCR analysis confirmed down-regulation of seven genes related to myelination. As these genes have been reported to be diminished in the brain of patients with schizophrenia, the results of this study suggest an exaggerated maturation process may contribute to the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders.