Abstracto

Evidence of Viral Infection and Mitochondrial alterations in the Brain of fetuses at high risk for Schizophrenia

Segundo Mesa Castillo

There is increasing evidences that favor the prenatal beginning of schizophrenia. This evidences point toward intrauterine environmental factors that act specifically during the second pregnancy trimester producing an immediate damage of the brain of the fetus. the present available technology doesn't allow observing what's happening at cellular level since the human brain isn't exposed to an immediate analysis therein stage of the life in subjects at high risk of developing schizophrenia. Methods. In 1977 we began an immediate microscopy research of the brain of fetuses at high risk from schizophrenic mothers so as to finding differences at cellular level in reference to controls. Results. In these studies we've observed within the nuclei of neurons the presence of complete and incomplete viral particles is reacted in positive form with antibodies to herpes simplex hominis type I [HSV1] virus, and mitochondria alterations. Conclusion. The importance of those findings have practical applications within the prevention of the illness keeping in mind its direct reference to the aetiology and physiopathology of schizophrenia. A study of amnionic fluid cells in women in danger of getting a schizophrenic offspring is taken into account. Of being observed an equivalent alterations that those observed previously within the cells of the brain of the studied foetuses, it might shall these women in risk of getting a schizophrenia descendant, previous information of the results, the voluntary medical interruption of the pregnancy or early anti HSV1 viral treatment as preventive measure of the later development of the illness.

Keywords: viral infection, schizophrenia, brain