Amygdala astrocyte reduction in subjects with major depressive disorder but not bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Several magnetic resonance imaging studies have found changes in amygdala volumes in adults with mood disorders. The cellular basis for these changes has not been explored in detail. Specifically, it is not known whether differences in the density and/or volume of neurons or glial cells contribute to tissue volume changes seen on magnetic resonance images.


METHODS
Postmortem amygdala samples were obtained from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium from subjects diagnosed with bipolar disorder (n = 10), major depressive disorder (n = 11), and schizophrenia (n = 9), and from normal controls (n = 14). Samples were first stained with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and counter-stained with hematoxylin to ascertain neuron and glia (astrocyte) densities.


RESULTS
No significant differences in neuronal densities were found between groups. However, a reduction in the density of GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes was observed in the amygdala of subjects with major depressive disorder compared to the bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and normal control postmortem samples.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in density of GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes in the amygdala of depressed subjects is consistent with prior histologic reports and might contribute to amygdala volume reductions reported in several in vivo neuroimaging studies.
Altshuler
Lori L
LL
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968, USA. laltshuler@mednet.ucla.edu
Abulseoud
Osama A
OA
Foland-Ross
Lara
L
Bartzokis
George
G
Chang
Sean
S
Mintz
Jim
J
Hellemann
Gerhard
G
Vinters
Harry V
HV
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein