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.
Methods
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.
Results
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.
Conclusion
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.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 16,
2004
Received in revised form:
August 17,
2003
Received:
June 16,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
