Anterior cingulate cortex pathology in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (original) (raw)

Abstract.

To explore possible morphological abnormalities in the dorsal and subgenual parts of anterior cingulate cortex in mood disorders and schizophrenia, we performed a quantitative postmortem study of 44 schizophrenic patients, 21 patients with sporadic bipolar disorder, 20 patients with sporadic major depression, and 55 age- and sex-matched control cases. All individuals were drug naïve or had received psychotropic medication for less than 6 months, and had no history of substance abuse. Neuron densities and size were estimated on cresyl violet-stained sections using a stereological counting approach. The distribution and density of microtubule-associated (MAP2, MAP1b) and tau proteins were assessed by immunocytochemistry and quantitative immunodot assay. Mean total and laminar cortical thicknesses as well as mean pyramidal neuron size were significantly decreased in the dorsal and subgenual parts of areas 24 (24sg) in schizophrenic cases. Patients with bipolar disorder showed a substantial decrease in laminar thickness and neuron densities in layers III, V, and VI of the subgenual part of area 24, whereas patients with major depression were comparable to controls. Immunodot assay showed a significant decrease of both MAP2 and MAP1b proteins in bipolar patients but not in patients with schizophrenia and major depression. The neuroanatomical and functional significance of these findings are discussed in the light of current hypotheses regarding the role of areas 24 and 24sg in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuropsychiatry, HUG Belle-Idée, 2 chemin du Petit Bel-Air, 1225 Geneva, Switzerland, , , , ,
    Constantin Bouras
  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland, , , , ,
    Enikö Kövari
  3. Kastor Neurobiology of Aging Laboratories and Fishberg Research Center for Neurobiology, and Departments of Geriatrics and Adult Development, and Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA, , , , ,
    Patrick R. Hof
  4. Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Cellular Biology and Morphology, University of Lausanne School of Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland, , , , ,
    Beat M. Riederer
  5. Clinic of Geriatric Psychiatry, HUG-Belle-Idée, 1225 Geneva, Switzerland, , , , ,
    Panteleimon Giannakopoulos

Authors

  1. Constantin Bouras
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Enikö Kövari
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Patrick R. Hof
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  4. Beat M. Riederer
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  5. Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Revised, accepted: 12 March 2001

Electronic Publication

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bouras, C., Kövari, E., Hof, P.R. et al. Anterior cingulate cortex pathology in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Acta Neuropathol 102, 373–379 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010100392

Download citation