title: Morphometry of the dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic neurons in suicide victims.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The serotonin deficiency hypothesis of suicide has been important heuristically. Few studies have directly examined the brainstem dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) serotonin neurons. We determined the number and morphometry of DRN serotonergic neurons in suicide victims (n = 7) compared to controls (n = 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  Brainstems were collected at autopsy, fixed and cryoprotected. Tissue was sectioned, stained for Nissl and processed with an antiserum that cross-reacts with tryptophan hydroxylase. All DRN neurons were identified, counted and analyzed every 1000 microns. Neuron morphometry was characterized by soma area (micron 2), sphericity, perimeter, length and density (neurons per mm3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neuron number and density was higher in suicide victims (1,780 +/- 127 neurons/mm3) than controls (1,349 +/- 68). The DRN volume did not differ between groups (66 +/- 9 mm3 for controls vs. 67 +/- 5 mm3 for suicides). Mean neuronal area and sphericity did not differ between suicides and controls. The total number and the density of DRN neurons did not correlate with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of an increased number of neurons indicates that impaired serotonergic transmission found in association with serious suicide attempts is not due to fewer neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khaibulina
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arango
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency*; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin