The Virus Theory for Schizophrenia: Science Fiction?

Dr. Segundo Mesa Castillo of Havana, Cuba, has favored the virus theory based on his neuropathology and histopathology research. He has studied subcortical parts of the brain in the limbic system and has found neuron degeneration, glial reaction, fat deposits, particles, and various other findings. He suspects the particles of being a virus.

My chief resouce on Castillo is his Powerpoint presentations at the website www.wpanet.org. This is the World Psychiatric Association site. Castillo has presentations in both English and Spanish.

The Brain

Mesa Castillo has reported enlargement of the ventricles, particularly the temporal horn. He has reported shrinkage of the amygdala, presumably due to tissue loss. The amygdala is close to the temporal horn.

Prof. Janice Stevens

Stevens, a brilliant neuropathologist, has reported low glucose brain metabolism in both schizophrenia and depression. Stevens also favors the virus theory, but this work seems to support a metabolic theory. In other words, both schizophrenia and depression may be a diabetes of the brain. This is my own theory.

Prof. Thompson (UCLA)

In 2001 Thompson et al reported a longitudinal study in which progressive brain tissue loss was seen in patients. This brilliant study disproves the popular, but false, neurodevelopmental theory. It supports the neurodegenerative theory. However, neurodegeneration could be cause by a virus or by a toxin or even by a deficiency. My view is that a toxin is involved. Castillo's finding of glial reaction supports either a toxin or a virus.

The reason why I reject the virus theory is that it is well known that a connection exists between stress and mental illness. People suffer breakdowns in wars and in other disasters.

Abram Hoffer of Canada has favored a derangement of stress chemistry resulting in a toxic factor. I feel that this makes a lot of sense.

2005 Powerpoint Presentation by Mesa Castillo

Mesa Castillo started his research in 1977. He has continued to this day. He has studied the left temporal lobe. He found membrane alterations, intranuclear bodies, etc. In schizophrenia he found deposits of glycoprotein granules around the vessels. Unfortunately the meaning of this finding is not completely clear.

In the amygdaline nucleus he found a microglial reaction around degenerated neurons. He found deposits of lipids in degenerated neurons. This appears to support my own theory of the cells overeating some macronutrient(s).

There was membrane proliferation. Intranuclear particles had central cores and capsules. These particles were thought by Mesa Castillo to be a virus. Intranuclear filamentous inclusion bodies were seen.

"The Human Brain and Schizophrenia" is the title of one of Mesa Castillo's Powerpoint presentations. This one is mostly in English with a few slides in Spanish.

A Blood Test for Schizophrenia

The brilliant Cuban scientist also studied the blood platelets. THe brain research had to be done with dead patients, but the blood work could be done with living patients. He insists that the abnormalities were not caused by the medications. He found schizophrenic platelets to be large, sometimes up to three times the normal size. This is consistent with my theory of the cells overeating.

Mesa Castillo also found vacuoles in the schizophrenic platelets as well as other abnormalities. Vacuoles tend to represent cellular food in animal cells, although they may contain water in plants. Large philopodia were seen ("elephant feet"). Particles were seen in the vacuoles. The remains of membranes were seen in the vacuoles, suggesting that the vacuoles came from mitochondria that burst.

There was an increase in glycogen in the abnormal platelets. This suggests a partial failure of glucose metabolism.

Conclusions

According to Mesa Castillo, the findings were independent of the long term use of neuroleptics. The blood test was reported in a paper published on the website www.wpanet.org. In this case he did not do a powerpoint presentation. Nevertheless some of the platelet research is mentioned in other presentations.

There were more philopodia that were "ballooning" in the schizophrenic platelets.

Clearly more research needs to be done. A blood test for schizophrenia would be of great value. Up until now there have been tests, but they have been very controversial. One example was the "pink spot" test, invented by Friedhoff & van Winkle in 1962. This test found an abnormal chemical (DMPEA) only in schizophrenics. This same chemical is found in the peyote cactus.

There is some evidence in favor of the virus theory, but there is massive evidence for the metabolic theory. My own view is that metabolic errors cause schizophrenia. What Mesa calls "philopodia" are called "pseudopodia" (false feet) by other scientists. Amoeba have these also. Amoeba use them to move around.