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[Ultrastructural pathology of oligodendrocytes in white matter in continuous attack-like schizophrenia and a role for
O V Vikhreva1, V I Rakhmanova1, D D Orlovskaya1
1Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia.
Aim:
Previously the authors have reported the ultrastructural pathology and deficits of oligodendrocytes in gray and white matter of the prefrontal cortex in continuous paranoid schizophrenia. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of microglia on the ultrastructure of oligodendrocytes in white matter underlying the prefrontal cortex (BA10) in attack-like schizophrenia.
Material And Methods:
Postmortem morphometric electron microscopic study of oligodendrocytes in close apposition to microglia was performed in white matter underlying the prefrontal cortex (BA10). Nine cases of chronic attack-like schizophrenia and 20 normal controls were studied. Areas of oligodendrocytes, volume density (Vv) and the number of mitochondria, vacuoles of endoplasmic reticulum and lipofuscin granules were estimated. Group comparison was performed using ANCOVA.
Results:
The schizophrenia group differed from the control group by paucity of ribosomes in cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes, cytoplasm swelling, a significant increase in Vv and number of vacuoles and lipofuscin granules. Significant correlations between the parameters of vacuoles and lipofuscin granules and mitochondria were found only in the schizophrenia group.
Conclusion:
Dystrophic alterations of oligodendrocytes apposed microglial cells were found in the white matter of the prefrontal cortex in chronic schizophrenia as compared to controls. Microglia might contribute to abnormalities of lipid and protein metabolism of oligodendrocytes.
Insights
Microglia appear to cause damage to oligodendrocytes in the brain white matter of individuals with schizophrenia. This damage affects oligodendrocyte structure and may disrupt lipid and protein metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Previous research identified oligodendrocyte deficits in schizophrenia.
- The role of microglia in these oligodendrocyte alterations remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural effects of microglia on oligodendrocytes.
- Focus on white matter of the prefrontal cortex (BA10) in attack-like schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem electron microscopy of oligodendrocytes near microglia.
- Morphometric analysis of oligodendrocyte ultrastructure (area, mitochondria, vacuoles, lipofuscin).
- Comparison between 9 chronic schizophrenia cases and 20 controls using ANCOVA.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia group showed reduced ribosomes and cytoplasm swelling.
- Increased volume density and number of vacuoles and lipofuscin granules in oligodendrocytes.
- Correlations between vacuoles, lipofuscin, and mitochondria observed only in schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- Oligodendrocytes near microglia exhibit dystrophic changes in schizophrenia.
- Microglia may contribute to oligodendrocyte metabolic dysregulation (lipids, proteins).
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