Complexity of Olfactory Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
The review is focused on olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia. Both structural and functional abnormalities extend to the peripheral and the central parts of olfactory sensory system. Being a system most closely associated with the brain regions affected in schizophrenia, its functional characteristics can serve as a sensetive indicator for early and differential diagnostics. Of greatest interest is the relationship between the defect of postnatal neurogenesis in patients and olfactory dysfinctioning. Recently, research methods utilazing biopsies of olfactory neuroepithelium as a model system have been developed. These cell cultures are promising objects for studying pathogenesis of schizophrenia on molecular level in vitro.