Volume, neuron density and total neuron number in five subcortical regions in schizophrenia
Volume, neuron density and total neuron number in five subcortical regions in schizophrenia
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DOI：
10.1093/brain/awl386
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发表时间：
2007-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
14.5
通讯作者：
Schmitz, Christoph
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kreczmanski, Pawel;Heinsen, Helmut;Schmitz, Christoph
一些研究指出，在尾状核（CN），壳核，丘脑背内侧核（MDNT）和杏仁核外侧核（LNA）的平均体积，神经元密度和总神经元数量的改变在精神分裂症。然而，这些研究的结果是相互矛盾的，在这些皮质下区域尚未建立明确的改变模式，可能是由于所使用的定量组织学方法的差异以及所研究的病例系列的差异。本研究采用高精度设计为基础的体视学方法，研究了同一死后脑的两个半球的皮质下区域的体积、神经元密度和神经元总数。分析的病例系列包括13例男性精神分裂症患者的尸检大脑[年龄范围：22-64岁;平均年龄51.5 +/- 3.3岁（平均值+/- SEM）]和13例年龄匹配的男性对照（年龄范围：25-65岁;平均年龄51.9 +/- 3.1岁）。一般线性模型的多变量方差分析与诊断和半球作为固定因素和疾病的持续时间（精神分裂症患者）或年龄（对照组），死后间隔和固定时间作为协变量显示了一些统计学显着的变化，从精神分裂症患者的大脑与对照组相比。壳核的平均体积减少[左侧（l）为-5.0%，右侧（r）为-4.1%]，LNA（l：-12.1%，r：-17.6%），CN中平均神经元总数减少（1：-10.4%，r：-10.2%）、壳核（1：-8.1%，r：-11.6%）和LNA（1：-15.9%，r：-16.2%）。这些数据显示了一个以前未报道的，在一个精心挑选的精神分裂症患者的大脑样本中，在确定的皮层下脑区的平均总神经元数量的变化的独特模式。精神分裂症患者和对照组大脑中几个区域的严格定量分析对于提供精神分裂症神经病理学的可靠信息以及对其发病机制的见解至关重要。
Several studies have pointed to alterations in mean volumes, neuron densities and total neuron numbers in the caudate nucleus (CN), putamen, nucleus accumbens (NA), mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MDNT) and lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LNA) in schizophrenia. However, the results of these studies are conflicting and no clear pattern of alterations has yet been established in these subcortical regions, possibly due to differences in quantitative histological methods used as well as differences in the investigated case series. The present study investigates these subcortical regions in both hemispheres of the same post-mortem brains for volume, neuron density and total neuron number with high-precision design-based stereology. The analysed case series consisted of 13 post-mortem brains from male schizophrenic patients [age range: 22-64 years; mean age 51.5 +/- 3.3 years (mean +/- SEM)] and 13 age-matched male controls (age range: 25-65 years; mean age 51.9 +/- 3.1 years). A general linear model multivariate analysis of variance with diagnosis and hemisphere as fixed factors and illness duration (schizophrenic patients) or age (controls), post-mortem interval and fixation time as covariates showed a number of statistically significant alterations in the brains from schizophrenic patients compared with the controls. There was a reduced mean volume of the putamen [-5.0% on the left side (l) and -4.1% on the right side (r)] and the LNA (l: -12.1%, r: -17.6%), and a reduced mean total neuron number in the CN (l: -10.4%, r: -10.2%), putamen (l: -8.1%, r: -11.6%) and the LNA (l: -15.9%, r: -16.2%). These data show a previously unreported, distinct pattern of alterations in mean total neuron numbers in identified subcortical brain regions in a carefully selected sample of brains from schizophrenic patients. The rigorous quantitative analysis of several regions in brains from schizophrenic patients and matched controls is crucial to provide reliable information on the neuropathology of schizophrenia as well as insights about its pathogenesis.