Reduced density of calbindin-immunoreactive interneurons in the planum temporale in schizophrenia.
Reduced density of calbindin-containing interneurons in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia has been reported (Beasley et al 2002; Biol Psych 52:708-715). Calbindin is a calcium-binding protein (CBP) present in a subpopulation of GABAergic neurons restricted mainly to layer II of the cortex. A paraffin-embedded, 10-mum-thick section from the planum temporale (PT) of each hemisphere was prepared from 12 patients with schizophrenia and 12 controls. Calbindin-containing cells were stained using an antibody (D-28K). Counting frames were superimposed to sample within layer II of the PT. A bilateral reduction (20%) in calbindin cell density was found in patients (controlling for fixation time). Furthermore, mean calbindin cell cross-sectional area was increased in female patients and reduced in male patients. Reduced CBP expression (reducing the excitability of interneurons) or reduced number of CBP-containing cells may cause disinhibition of pyramidal cells. The majority of calbindin-containing cells in the mature brain are double-bouquet cells with vertically oriented dendrites and axon bundles. By exercising inhibitory modulation of pyramidal cells in a columnar arrangement, they make possible cohesive vertical inhibition of minicolumns. Loss of columnar inhibition may result in reduced minicolumnar segregation and altered cell size may reflect altered minicolumn size.
Chance
S A
SA
Schizophrenia Research, Neuropathology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. steven.chance@clneuro.ox.ac.uk
Walker
M
M
Crow
T J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D064026:Calbindins; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods
D064026:Calbindins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G