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Animal Models Based on Immune Challenge: The Link to Brain Changes and Schizophrenia

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Immunology and Psychiatry

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Neurotoxicity ((Current Topics Neurotoxicity,volume 8))

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Abstract

Within the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, microglial cells seem to play the most important role. Early changes within the embryonal phase and neurodegenerative processes lead to activation of microglia cells, which—via the neurotoxic activities of these cells—induces a rarification of synaptic connections in frontal and temporal brain regions, i.e. reduction of the neuropil. Promising inflammational models in rodents for schizophrenia with high validity can be today used to mimic behavioral as well as neurobiological findings in patients, e.g. the well-known neurochemical alterations within the dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, and other neurotransmitter systems. The microglial activation can also be well modelled within one of these models, i.e. the inflammational PolyI:C animal model of schizophrenia, having a time peak in late adolescence/early adulthood. The exact mechanism, by which activated microglia cells then trigger neurodegeneration, must be now investigated further on in broad detail. Thus, these animal models can be used to understand the pathophysiology of schizophrenia especially concerning the interaction of immune activation, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, this should lead to the development of better treatment options and of preventive interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital, Alexandrinenstraße 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Germany

    Georg Juckel

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  1. Georg Juckel
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Correspondence to Georg Juckel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Clinic, Campus Innenstadt Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany

    Norbert Müller

  2. University Clinic, Campus Innenstadt PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Group, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany

    Aye-Mu Myint

  3. Institute fuer Laboratoriumsmedizin, Klinikum der Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany

    Markus J. Schwarz

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Juckel, G. (2015). Animal Models Based on Immune Challenge: The Link to Brain Changes and Schizophrenia. In: Müller, N., Myint, AM., Schwarz, M. (eds) Immunology and Psychiatry. Current Topics in Neurotoxicity, vol 8. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13602-8_1

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