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Related Experiment Videos

Seasonality and pituitary volume

P J Schwartz1, J A Loe, C N Bash

  • 1Clinical Psychobiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1390, USA. pschwart@box-p.nih.gov

Psychiatry Research
|July 4, 1997
PubMed
Summary

This study found no significant changes in pituitary volume associated with winter depression or seasonal shifts. Pituitary size remained stable across seasons in individuals with and without seasonal affective disorder.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder Research

Background:

  • Human pituitary volume can vary with photoperiod and is elevated in non-seasonal depression.
  • Understanding pituitary volume dynamics in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate seasonal variations in pituitary volume.
  • To determine if winter depression episodes alter pituitary gland size.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure pituitary gland volume.
  • 19 patients with winter SAD and 19 matched controls were scanned in winter and summer.
  • Pituitary volumes were calculated by summing the areas of contiguous 0.7-mm slices.

Main Results:

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  • No significant main effects of diagnosis or season on pituitary volume were observed.
  • A trend (P=0.06) indicated seasonal differences in volume changes between genders: women showed a slight increase, men a slight decrease.
  • Overall, significant changes in pituitary size related to winter depression or season were not detected.

    • Conclusions:

    • Winter depression does not appear to be associated with significant alterations in pituitary gland volume.
    • Seasonal changes in pituitary size are not a prominent feature in individuals with or without SAD.
    • Further research may explore subtle gender-specific seasonal volume trends.