Increased neuronal cell number in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in schizophrenia.
Axer H, Bernstein H-G, Keiner S, Heronimus P, Sauer H, Witte OW, Bogerts B, Bär K-J. Increased neuronal cell number in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
Recently, a reduction in efferent vagal regulation has been found in schizophrenic patients.


METHODS
Therefore, the brainstems of nine schizophrenic patients and nine normal controls were stereologically analysed. The number of neurons using the optical fractionator method and nuclear volumes applying the Cavalieri principle was estimated in Nissl stained sections of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNV) and the hypoglossal nucleus.


RESULTS
The neurons in the right DMNV were significantly increased in the schizophrenic group compared to normal controls (p = 0.047), while the volumes of the DMNV did not differ. In contrast, no such differences were found in the hypoglossal nucleus.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this pilot study is limited by its small sample size, the analysis of the solitarius-ambiguus-vagus system in schizophrenic patients is an interesting target in schizophrenia research. The most reasonable background for increased neuron numbers in the DMNV could be a system-specific neurodevelopmental disturbance in schizophrenia.
1Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
Hubertus
H
Axer
2Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
Hans-Gert
HG
Bernstein
1Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
Silke
S
Keiner
2Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
Polina
P
Heronimus
3Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
Heinrich
H
Sauer
1Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
Otto W
OW
Witte
2Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
Bernhard
B
Bogerts
3Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
Karl-Jürgen
KJ
Bär