Genetic animal models of schizophrenia related with the hypothesis of abnormal neurodevelopment

Abstract

Accumulating evidence supports the existence of an overlap in genetic susceptibility with schizophrenia. Translation of human genetic mutations into animals is one of the most important strategies to study the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, identify potential drug targets, and test new medicines for antipsychotic treatment. Recent discoveries of susceptibility genes for schizophrenia make the possibility to develop newer genetic mouse models based on the neurodevelopmental hypotheses of schizophrenia. Although it is not possible to mimic all schizophrenic symptoms by these animal models, the genetic mouse models based on the neurodevelopmental hypothesis are widely developed to reproduce several schizophrenia-like behavioral and biochemical changes in humans. In this mini review, we will discuss the neuropathological and behavioral manifestations of representative genetic mouse models for schizophrenia, associated with the hypothesis of abnormal neurodevelopment.