From Perinatal Stress to Schizophrenia: The Emerging Role of Glial Pathology

Glia are the non-excitable cells of the brain, which, upon hyperstimulation, give rise to neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent evidence suggests that they are highly reactive cells, which makes them prone to environmental stimuli and early-life stressors. Upon excessive or chronic stimulation through exposure to stressors, these cells become responsible for causing neurological damage, which leads to neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, a global burden with no definite interventions.

Perinatal stressors such as protein malnourishment, immunological disturbances, toxins, parental separation and abuse play a major role in negatively changing the cytoarchitecture and homeostasis of both neurons and glial cells (astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes), finally degrading both cognitive and behavioural abilities. Effects of excessive glial activation and/or degeneration result in neuroinflammation, memory loss, anxiety, depression and hyperactivity-like symptoms in adult individuals, which contribute to the manifestation of schizophrenic pathology.

Therefore, it is believed that perinatal stressor-associated negative changes in glia can predispose an individual to develop this disorder later in life. This review summarises current evidence on how diverse early-life stressors influence glial cells, which could contribute to the neurobiological mechanism underlying schizophrenia.