Abnormalities in Prefrontal Cortical Gene Expression Profiles Relevant to Schizophrenia in MK801-Exposed C57BL/6 Mice.

MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, disturbs NMDAR function in rodents and induces psychological and behavioral changes similar to schizophrenia(SCZ). However, the effects of MK-801 treatment on gene expression in prefrontal cortex (PFC) are largely unknown. We have established MK-801 animal models to explore the etiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Transcriptome analysis of the prefrontal cortex reveals that the differentially expressed genes mainly aggregate in chemical synaptic transmission and immune system process. Gene association patterns which are involved in synaptic vesicle cycle and mitochondrial electron transport chain have also been altered. Together, these observations underscore that dysfunction in glutamatergic synaptic vesicle cycle and mitochondrial electron transport chain has an impact on the pathogenesis of SCZ. Prefrontal cortex mRNA profiles of three saline control mice and six MK801-exposed mice were generated by RNA-seq, using Illumina X-10.