Modeling schizophrenia in animals represents a formidable challenge because the most characteristic symptoms of this disorder, auditory hallucinations and delusional beliefs, cannot be directly modeled in animals. Furthermore, limited current understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology underlying the clinical features of this disorder greatly hinders the ability to develop valid models based on those aspects. To circumvent these issues, investigators have attempted to recreate the leading candidate biochemical, neuroanatomical, and genetic abnormalities for this disorder in animals using pharmacological, developmental, neurotoxic, genetic engineering, and other methods. The validity of these animal preparations as animal models for schizophrenia is generally based upon the extent to which they induce measurable behavioral changes that are homologous or analogous to the core clinical features or the information-processing endophenotypes (presymptom phenotypes) that are seen in schizophrenia. The utility of any animal model to serve as a screen for novel treatments is considered related to the extent to which the schizophrenia-relevant behaviors it exhibits can be ameliorated by drugs with known efficacy in schizophrenia but not by drugs known to be therapeutic for brain disorders other than schizophrenia.

Animal Models for the Study of Human Disease identifies important animal models and assesses the advantages and disadvantages of each model for the study of human disease. The first section addresses how to locate resources, animal alternatives, animal ethics and related issues, much needed information for researchers across the biological sciences and biomedicine.The next sections of the work offers models for disease-oriented topics, including cardiac and pulmonary diseases, aging, infectious diseases, obesity, diabetes, neurological diseases, joint diseases, visual disorders, cancer, hypertension, genetic diseases, and diseases of abuse. - Organized by disease orientation for ease of searchability - Provides information on locating resources, animal alternatives and animal ethics - Covers a broad range of animal models used in research for human disease

Biochemical Basis of Functional Neuroteratology

Advances in Brain Vasopressin elucidates the functions of the regulatory peptide vasopressin in the nervous system, and reviews the current status of this field at different levels. It deals with the cell biology and anatomy of the neurons that produce vasopressin in the brain, and provides an overview on the receptors of vasopressin and the signal transduction pathways that they activate, including the cellular responses that are triggered by vasopressin. Reviews are presented on the modulation of behavior induced by vasopressin in a number of different contexts, such as sex-linked and steroid-dependent behaviors, social behaviors, and learning and memory. Furthermore, the volume deals with several controversial issues in the field by presenting overlapping chapters from different research groups in order to provide the reader with current views. Highly relevant and useful, for those working on this "first" neuropeptide, and for young investigators entering the field, and in addition, shows how important a multidisciplinary approach is to unravelling the function of a neuropeptide in the brain.