Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Stockmeier, 2004 PubMed |
| Full Info | Stockmeier, C.A., Mahajan, G.J., Konick, L.C., Overholser, J.C., Jurjus, G.J., Meltzer, H.Y., Uylings, H.B., Friedman, L. and Rajkowska, G. (2004) Cellular changes in the postmortem hippocampus in major depression. Biol Psychiatry, 56, 640-650.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Imaging studies report that hippocampal volume is decreased in major depressive disorder (MDD). A cellular basis for reduced hippocampal volume in MDD has not been identified.
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| Sample Information | 19 subjects with MDD and 21 normal control subjects |
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| Method Detail | Sections of right hippocampus were collected in 19 subjects with MDD and 21 normal control subjects. The density of pyramidal neurons, dentate granule cell neurons, glia, and the size of the neuronal somal area were measured in systematic, randomly placed three-dimensional optical disector counting boxes. |
| Method Keywords | postmortem study; cytological analysis |
| Result | In MDD, cryostat-cut hippocampal sections shrink in depth a significant 18% greater amount than in control subjects. The density of granule cells and glia in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons and glia in all cornv ammonis (CA)/hippocampal subfields is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. The average soma size of pyramidal neurons is significantly decreased in MDD. |
| Conclusions | In MDD, the packing density of glia, pyramidal neurons, and granule cell neurons is significantly increased in all hippocampal subfields and the dentate gyrus, and pyramidal neuron soma size is significantly decreased as well. It is suggested that a significant reduction in neuropil in MDD may account for decreased hippocampal volume detected by neuroimaging. In addition, differential shrinkage of frozen sections of the hippocampus suggests differential water content in hippocampus in MDD. |
Relationships reported by
Stockmeier, 2004
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Hippocampus (hippocampus) |
brain morphology and function |
increased by 30%-35% in MDD |
The density of pyramidal neurons and glia in all cornv ammonis (CA)/hippocampal subfields is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Neuroglia (glia) |
cell |
|
The density of granule cells and glia in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons and glia in all cornv ammonis (CA)/hippocampal subfields is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Dentate gyrus (dentate gyrus) |
brain morphology and function |
increased by 30%-35% in MDD |
The density of granule cells and glia in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Hippocampus (hippocampal sections) |
brain morphology and function |
18% greater |
In MDD, cryostat-cut hippocampal sections shrink in depth a significant 18% greater amount than in control subjects |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
granule cell (granule cells) |
cell |
|
The density of granule cells and glia in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons and glia in all cornv ammonis (CA)/hippocampal subfields is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
pyramidal neuron (pyramidal neurons) |
cell |
|
The density of granule cells and glia in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons and glia in all cornv ammonis (CA)/hippocampal subfields is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. The average soma size of pyramidal neurons is significantly decreased in MDD |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
cornu ammonis (cornu ammonis) |
brain morphology and function |
increased by 30%-35% in MDD |
The density of pyramidal neurons and glia in all cornv ammonis (CA)/hippocampal subfields is significantly increased by 30%-35% in MDD. |
Positive
|
