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Open Access 01-01-2013 | Basic Neurosciences, Genetics and Immunology - Original Article

Increased cell proliferation in the rat anterior cingulate cortex following neonatal hypoxia: relevance to schizophrenia

Authors: Evelin L. Schaeffer, Franziska Kühn, Angelika Schmitt, Wagner F. Gattaz, Oliver Gruber, Thomas Schneider-Axmann, Peter Falkai, Andrea Schmitt

Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

As a consequence of obstetric complications, neonatal hypoxia has been discussed as an environmental factor in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, the biological consequences of hypoxia are unclear. The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that the onset of abnormal brain development and neuropathology occurs perinatally, whereas symptoms of the disease appear in early adulthood. In our animal model of chronic neonatal hypoxia, we have detected behavioral alterations resembling those known from schizophrenia. Disturbances in cell proliferation possibly contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease. In the present study, we used postnatal rats to investigate cell proliferation in several brain areas following neonatal hypoxia. Rats were repeatedly exposed to hypoxia (89 % N₂, 11 % O₂) from postnatal day (PD) 4–8. We then evaluated cell proliferation on PD 13 and 39, respectively. These investigations were performed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), caudate-putamen (CPU), dentate gyrus, and subventricular zone. Rats exposed to hypoxia exhibited increased cell proliferation in the ACC at PD 13, normalizing at PD 39. In other brain regions, no alterations have been detected. Additionally, hypoxia-treated rats showed decreased CPU volume at PD 13. The results of the present study on the one hand support the assumption of chronic hypoxia influencing transient cell proliferation in the ACC, and on the other hand reveal normalization during ageing.

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Title: Increased cell proliferation in the rat anterior cingulate cortex following neonatal hypoxia: relevance to schizophrenia
Authors: Evelin L. Schaeffer
Franziska Kühn
Angelika Schmitt
Wagner F. Gattaz
Oliver Gruber
Thomas Schneider-Axmann
Peter Falkai
Andrea Schmitt
Publication date: 01-01-2013
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0300-9564
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1463
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-012-0859-y

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Increased cell proliferation in the rat anterior cingulate cortex following neonatal hypoxia: relevance to schizophrenia

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