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Histomorphometric study of basilar artery in normal and suicide persons
Suresh Kumar Parmar1, V Satya Prasad1
1Department of Anatomy, MNR Medical College and Hospital, Sangareddy and Maheshwara Medical College and Hospital, Patancheru, Medak District, Telangana, India.
Insights
Structural changes in the basilar artery, including decreased tunica media thickness and reduced collagen and elastic fibers, are linked to depression and suicidal behavior. These vascular abnormalities may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Depression linked to cerebrovascular risk factors is termed 'vascular depression'.
- Specific brain areas crucial for depression pathophysiology and suicidal tendencies are supplied by the basilar artery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the arterial histoarchitecture of the basilar artery in individuals who died by suicide compared to normal controls.
- To establish a potential relationship between vascular structural changes and depression.
Main Methods:
- Post-mortem basilar artery samples from 40 individuals (normal and suicide groups) were analyzed.
- Arterial and lumen diameters, along with tunica intima, media, and adventitia thickness, were measured.
- Volume fractions of elastic and collagen fibers were quantified using specific staining techniques.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant decrease in the mean thickness of the tunica media of the basilar artery was observed in the suicide group (1.08 µm) compared to the normal group (1.33 µm).
- The volume fraction of both collagen and elastic fibers was significantly lower in the basilar arteries of individuals in the suicide group compared to the normal group.
Conclusions:
- This study suggests a probable causative relationship between structural abnormalities in the basilar artery and depression.
- The observed vascular changes may contribute to the pathophysiology leading to suicidal tendencies in individuals with depression.
Background:
Depression in association with cerebro-vascular risk factors and white matter lesions is increasingly referred to as 'vascular depression'. There are several brain areas known for playing a role in patho-physiology of depression which may lead to suicidal tendencies, are fed by basilar artery. Therefore, the arterial histoarchitecture was studied in the normal and suicide individuals to establish a relationship between the vascular structural changes and depression.
Methods:
40 post-mortem samples (both sexes) of basilar artery have been collected and were grouped into normal and suicide groups. Samples were measured for arterial, lumen diameter and the thickness of tunica intima, media and adventitia using H & E stained sections. While, Orcein stained sections were used to estimate the volume fraction of elastic fibres, and Van Gieson stained sections to estimate the volume fraction of collagen fibres.
Results:
The mean thickness of tunica media of basilar artery in suicide individuals (1.08 microns) showed a statistically significant decrease when compared to normal person (1.33 microns). Further, volume fraction of collagen (0.06 mm3/mm3) and elastic fibres (0.06 mm3/mm3) in suicide persons showed a statistically significant decrease when compared to normal person (collagen fibres 0.08 mm3/mm3; elastic fibres 0.09 mm3/mm3).
Conclusions:
This study establishes a probable causative relationship between vascular structural abnormality and depression which may drive the individual to commit suicide.