Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

227
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
227
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

1.3K
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
1.3K
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

261
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
261
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions01:30

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

260
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
260
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

424
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
424

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

LSD persistently disrupts affective pain processing.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

PinkyCaMP: an mScarlet-based calcium sensor with enhanced brightness, photostability and multiplexing capabilities.

Nature methods·2026
Same author

Microglia-glioblastoma crosstalk mediates glioblastoma invasion at the far infiltration zone.

Immunity·2026
Same author

Schizophrenia-associated complement C4 impairs synaptic connectivity and decreases microglia-synapse interactions through CR3 signaling.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Aluminium adjuvants and childhood health: a call for science.

Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)·2025
Same author

PinkyCaMP a mScarlet-based calcium sensor with exceptional brightness, photostability, and multiplexing capabilities.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Elevated Plus Maze for Mice
09:09

Elevated Plus Maze for Mice

Published on: December 22, 2008

91.7K

Elevated expression of complement C4 in the mouse prefrontal cortex causes schizophrenia-associated phenotypes.

Mélanie Druart1,2,3, Marika Nosten-Bertrand1,2,3, Stefanie Poll4

  • 1INSERM UMR-S 1270, Paris, France.

Molecular Psychiatry
|April 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary

High C4 gene expression, linked to schizophrenia, impairs brain development in mice. This study reveals how immune factors affect neural circuits, leading to cognitive deficits relevant to schizophrenia.

More Related Videos

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice
07:30

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

Published on: July 9, 2016

7.4K
Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice
19:32

Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice

Published on: March 1, 2014

52.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Elevated Plus Maze for Mice
09:09

Elevated Plus Maze for Mice

Published on: December 22, 2008

91.7K
HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice
07:30

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

Published on: July 9, 2016

7.4K
Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice
19:32

Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice

Published on: March 1, 2014

52.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Schizophrenia pathogenesis involves immune system dysregulation.
  • High expression variants of the C4 gene, part of the complement system, are linked to schizophrenia susceptibility.
  • The precise impact of elevated C4 expression on brain circuits is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how C4 gene overexpression affects neural circuits in the mouse prefrontal cortex.
  • To explore the cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying schizophrenia-associated endophenotypes.
  • To establish a causal link between an immunogenetic risk factor and schizophrenia-related brain abnormalities.

Main Methods:

  • In utero electroporation to overexpress C4 in mouse prefrontal cortex.
  • Time-lapse two-photon imaging in vivo to observe dendritic spine dynamics.
  • Electrophysiological recordings to assess synaptic function and neuronal excitability.

Main Results:

  • C4 overexpression reduced glutamatergic input and spine density in juvenile and adult mice, mimicking schizophrenia.
  • Deficits in dendritic spine formation and stabilization were observed in C4-overexpressing mice.
  • Evidence of NMDA receptor hypofunction, altered AMPA receptor trafficking, and impaired GABAergic transmission was found.
  • Reduced GABAergic transmission was linked to diminished release probability, lower GAD67 expression, and decreased excitability in parvalbumin interneurons.
  • Working memory impairment was associated with these cellular abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated C4 expression causally links to specific cortical endophenotypes of schizophrenia.
  • The study elucidates cellular mechanisms, including synaptic and network alterations, underlying C4's role in schizophrenia.
  • Findings highlight the critical role of the immune system's complement component C4 in brain development and psychiatric disorders.