title: Volumetric MRI analysis of the amygdala and hippocampus in subjects with major depression.
abstract: In order to explore the MRI volume of the amygdala and hippocampus in patients with major depression, quantitative MRI of the amygdala and hippocampus were studied in 22 patients with major depression and compared with 13 age-matched controls. The results showed that both groups exhibited similar significant hippocampal asymmetry (left smaller than right). The volume of the bilateral hippocampus was significantly smaller in the major depression group than that in control group. The patients had significant asymmetry of the amygdalar volumes (right smaller than left). No correlation was found between hippocampal volume abnormalities and ill duration. It was concluded that the hippocampus and amygdala within limbic-cortical networks may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of major depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yicheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jingfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Chengyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male