PRENATAL NUTRITIONAL DEPRIVATION AS A RISK FACTOR IN SCHIZOPHRENIA - PRECLINICAL EVIDENCE

We will review evidence from preclinical literature that prenatal nutr itional deprivation produces neurochemical, morphological, and electro physiological effects reminiscent of those seen in clinical studies of schizophrenia. We will focus on effects of nutritional deficiency tha t are likely to have implications for schizophrenia. These include dis ruption of neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine and serotonin and dysgenesis of the hippocampal formation. Preclinical studies show enh anced release and turnover of dopamine and serotonin following prenata l and early postnatal nutritional deficiency. Morphology of the hippoc ampus, as well as electrophysiology and hippocampally-mediated behavio rs are also altered. Although intriguing, these studies have not been conducted with schizophrenia in mind, and thus, outcome measures that may be more specifically related to schizophrenia have not been examin ed. We propose that further preclinical studies that examine the conse quences of prenatal nutritional deficiency, which may lead to altered neuronal migration and other developmental abnormalities, may be usefu l in understanding the etiology of schizophrenia.