Perinatal Choline for Infants with a Schizophrenia Risk Gene

Schizophrenia patients show lowered P50 gating (i.e., suppressed electrophysiological response occurring normally after a repeated auditory stimulus), and impaired P50 gating is associated with a CHRNA7 risk allele that leads to decreased gene expression. In fetal animal studies, low CHRNA7 expression impairs the choline pathway that activates CHRNA7 receptors and converts gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors from excitatory to inhibitory. Thus, impaired GABA inhibition could be the mechanism for decreased P50 gating. Because fetal choline pathways are not yet functional, choline must be supplied prenatally in amniotic fluid. These researchers hypothesized that gestational choline supplementation would normalize P50 gating in infants wi…