Effect of neurodevelopmental stress in animal models of schizophrenia: role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

The Ph.D.-Thesis written by Maren Klug is titled 'Effect of neurodevelopmental stress in animal models of schizophrenia: Role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)'. The research looked at the question whether schizophrenia may be caused by an interaction between two neurodevelopmental factors in life, also called the 'two-hit' hypothesis. For this, animal models were used to study the interactions between genetic factors, stressful events and cannabis abuse on schizophrenia-like behaviour and neurochemical changes in adulthood. The research overall confirmed the 'two-hit' hypothesis and the results of this work provided new insight into neurodevelopmental mechanisms involved in schizophrenia.