A morphometric examination of neuronal and glial cell pathology in the orbitofrontal cortex in late-life depression.
BACKGROUND
The orbitofrontal cortex has been implicated as a key component in depression by several imaging studies. This study aims to examine morphometrically glial cell and neuronal density and neuronal volume in the orbitofrontal cortex of late-life major depression patients.


METHODS
Post mortem tissue from 13 patients with major depression and 11 matched controls was obtained and analyzed using the optical disector and nucleator methods.


RESULTS
No changes were found in glial cell, pyramidal or non-pyramidal neuron density, or in non-pyramidal and pyramidal neuron volume in the orbitofrontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on previous findings, this study suggests variability in morphological changes within the orbitofrontal cortex, as well as the prefrontal cortex as a whole.
Khundakar
Ahmad
A
Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. ahmad.khundakar@ncl.ac.uk
Morris
Christopher
C
Oakley
Arthur
A
Thomas
Alan J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000473:pathology