Extended Abstract
Viral infection and mitochondrial alterations in the brain of fetuses at high risk for schizophrenia: Direct evidence
Author(s): Segundo Mesa Castillo*
There is increasing evidences that favor the prenatal beginning
of schizophrenia. These evidences point toward intra-uterine
environmental factors that act specifically during the second
pregnancy trimester producing a direct damage of the brain of
the fetus. The current available technology doesn't allow
observing what is happening at cellular level since the human
brain is not exposed to a direct analysis in that stage of the life
in subjects at high risk of developing schizophrenia. Methods.
In 1977 we began a direct electron microscopic research of the
brain of fetuses at high risk from schizophrenic mothers in
order to finding differences at cellular level in relation to
controls. Results. In these studies we have observed within the
nuclei of neurons the presence of complete and incomplete viral
particles that reacted in positive form with antibodies to herpes
simplex.. View More»