Structural and diffusion tensor imaging of the fornix in childhood- and adolescent-onset schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
There is emerging evidence that aberrations in the integrity of cerebral white matter tracts, especially those connected to limbic structures, play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The fornix is the primary efferent neural pathway of the hippocampus and has been shown to be abnormal in adults with schizophrenia.


METHODS
High-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor images were obtained on 15 patients with childhood- and adolescent-onset schizophrenia and 15 age- and sex-matched controls. Measures of cross-sectional area and water diffusion properties were obtained on regions of interest of the fornix performed by a trained radiologist.


RESULTS
The volume of the fornix was significantly smaller (10.9%) in children and adolescents with schizophrenia compared to controls (Cohen d = 0.87, p = .025). There were no significant differences between the fractional anisotropy or mean diffusivity between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the early stages of schizophrenia are associated with a decrease in fornix volume without microstructural white matter changes. The volume differences may reflect an early insult to neighboring brain regions (i.e., hippocampus), that could decrease the number of efferent fibers without necessarily disrupting fiber integrity.
Kendi
Mustafa
M
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
Kendi
Ayse Tuba Karagulle
ATK
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
Lehericy
Stephane
S
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
Ducros
Mathieu
M
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
Lim
Kelvin O
KO
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
Ugurbil
Kamil
K
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
Schulz
S Charles
SC
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes.
White
Tonya
T
Drs. Kendi, Kendi, Lim, Ugurbil, Schulz, and White are with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Lehericy is with the Université Pierre et Marie Curie; and Dr. Ducros is with the Université Paris Descartes. Electronic address: twhite@umn.edu.
D000293:Adolescent; D001284:Atrophy; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020712:Fornix, Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology