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Hippocampal neuron number in schizophrenia. A stereological study
S Heckers1, H Heinsen, B Geiger
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|November 1, 1991
Summary
This study found no significant difference in hippocampal neuron count between individuals with schizophrenia and controls. White matter changes, not neuronal loss, may underlie hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenia.
- The exact neuropathological basis for these changes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the total number of neurons in the hippocampus of individuals with schizophrenia compared to controls.
- To determine if neuronal cell loss contributes to hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Stereological analysis of hippocampal neuron counts and volumes.
- Comparison of 13 brains from individuals with schizophrenia and 13 matched controls.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in total hippocampal neuron numbers were found between groups.
- Hippocampal volume was reduced in schizophrenics, particularly on the left, but not significantly.
- Pyramidal cell layer volumes and nerve cell densities were similar across hippocampal subdivisions.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support the hypothesis of neuronal cell loss as the cause of hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenia.
- White matter alterations in the hippocampus may be implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.