The changes in AgNOR parameters of dorsal raphe nucleus neurons are related to suicide.
Depression has been established as the main cause of suicide and the research has concentrated on disturbed central serotonergic system in both disorders. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of brain stem is the main source of serotonergic innervation of limbic structures fundamental in the regulation of emotionally influenced behavior. The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded brains from 10 depressive patients, among them 5 suicides and 5 non-suicides and 13 matched mentally healthy controls. The karyometric parameters of DRN neurons were evaluated by AgNOR (Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer) silver staining method. The significant effect of suicide on nuclear area and AgNOR-ratio found in the cumulative analysis of all DRN subnuclei could be relevant for forensic diagnostic. The results suggest DRN neurons hypoactivity specific for suicide. Whether observed phenomenon is a "common trait" existing also in other diagnostic groups of mental disorders remains an open question.
Gos
Tomasz
T
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Debowa 23, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland. gost@amg.gda.pl
Krell
Dieter
D
Brisch
Ralf
R
Bielau
Hendrik
H
Trübner
Kurt
K
Bernstein
Hans-Gert
HG
Bogerts
Bernhard
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000473:pathology*; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods*; D013405:Suicide