title: Postmortem volumetric analysis of the nucleus accumbens in male heroin addicts: implications for deep brain stimulation.
abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is increasingly investigated in neuropsychiatric disorders. DBS requires computer-assisted 3D planning to implant the stimulation electrode precisely. Recently, there has been a debate about the true dimensions of NAc in healthy as well as in mentally ill individuals. Knowing its true dimensions in different neuropsychiatric disorders may improve even more precise targeting of NAc for therapeutic DBS. Volumes of NAc of heroin addicts (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 12) were calculated by using morphometry of serial whole-brain sections. Total brain volume was larger in the heroin group (mean 1478.85 ± 62.34 vs. mean 1352.38 ± 103.24 cm(3)), as the heroin group was more than 10 years younger (p = 0.001). However, the mean volume of the NAc in heroin addicts was smaller than in controls (0.528 ± 0.166 vs. 0.623 ± 0.196 cm(3); p = 0.019). This group effect did not significantly differ between the hemispheres. When assessed separately, left-hemispheric NAc volume was 15 % lower (p = 0.020), while right-hemispheric NAc volume was 16 % lower (p = 0.047) in the heroin-addicted group compared to controls. Based on these diagnosis-related differences, we believe it is important to further analyze NAc volumes in different psychiatric disorders to further improve precise targeting and electrode placement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. ulfmueller@gmail.com.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany. ulfmueller@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ulf J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Truebner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kolja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schiltz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.|Department of Neuropathology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mawrin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dobrowolny
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Gert
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogerts
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D065827:Abducens Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003933:Diagnosis; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Addiction; Deep brain stimulation; Heroin; Nucleus accumbens; Postmortem