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June 12-13, 2019 | Edinburgh, Scotland
Pediatrics and Clinical Pediatrics
2
nd
World Congress on
Current Pediatric Research | Volume: 23
Direct evidence of viral infection andmitochondrial alterations in the Brain of fetuses
at high risk for Schizophrenia
Segundo Mesa Castillo
Psychiatric Hospital of Havana, Cuba
There is increasing evidences that favor the prenatal
beginning of schizophrenia. These evidences point toward
intra-uterine environmental factors that act specifically
during the second pregnancy trimester producing a direct
damage of the brain of the fetus [1]. The current available
technology doesn't allow observing what is happening
at cellular level since the human brain is not exposed
to a direct analysis in that stage of the life in subjects
at high risk of developing schizophrenia. Methods. In
1977 we began a direct electron microscopic research
of the brain of fetuses at high risk from schizophrenic
mothers in order to finding differences at cellular level
in relation to controls. Results. In these studies we have
observed within the nuclei of neurons the presence of
complete and incomplete viral particles that reacted in
positive form with antibodies to herpes simplex hominis
type I [HSV1] virus, and mitochondria alterations [2].
Conclusion. The importance of these findings can have
practical applications in the prevention of the illness
keeping in mind its direct relation to the aetiology and
physiopathology of schizophrenia. A study of the gametes
or the amniotic fluid cells in women at risk of having a
schizophrenic offspring is considered. Of being observed
the same alterations that those observed previously in the
cells of the brain of the studied foetuses, it would intend to
these women in risk of having a schizophrenia descendant,
previous information of the results, the voluntary medical
interruption of the pregnancy or an early anti HSV1 viral
treatment as preventive measure of the later development
of the illness.
e:
segundo@infomed.sld.cuCurrent Pediatric Research, Volume 23
ISSN: 0971-9032