Abstract #1276

Structural Abnormalities Revealed by T2-Weighted and Manganese-Enhanced MRI in Methylazoxymethanol Acetate-Treated Rats: Relevance as a Translational Biomarker for Schizophrenia

Chih-Liang Chin¹, Peter Curzon², Ann E. Tovcimak¹, Bryan F. Cox¹, Lynne E. Rueter², Michael W. Decker², Gerard B. Fox¹, Ana M. Basso²

¹Advanced Technology, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA; ²Neuroscience Research, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder and its etiology remains elusive. Herein, using T2-weighted and manganese-enhanced MRI, we investigated structural changes in methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM)-treated rats a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. We found that, compared to vehicle controls, an increase in the volume of lateral ventricles (p<0.001) and third ventricle (p<0.05) as well as reduction of hippocampal volume (p<0.001) in MAM-treated rats. These findings are consistent with ventricle enlargement shown in schizophrenic patients and cortical thickness thinning previously observed in MAM-treated rats. Therefore, structural abnormalities observed in this model might serve as translational biomarkers for assessing novel treatments for schizophrenia.