Stereologische Untersuchung der von Economo Zellen in Schicht V in Brodmann Area 24 im Gehirn von männlichen Patienten mit Schizophrenie

Vollhardt, Alisa (2023): Stereologische Untersuchung der von Economo Zellen in Schicht V in Brodmann Area 24 im Gehirn von männlichen Patienten mit Schizophrenie. Dissertation, LMU München: Faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Neuropathological studies about von Economo neurons (VENs) thrived by the end of the 20th century. VENs are specialized projection neurons restricted to a few areas of the cerebral cortex, such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The ACC is viewed as a core region in the neuropathology of schizophrenia and plays a role in cognition and emotion. VENs are especially vulnerable to those neuropsychiatric diseases in which social deficits are a hallmark. Social deficits are a known issue in schizophrenia, but so far, only a few studies investigated a possible pathology of VENs in schizophrenia. In the present study, rigorous designed-based stereology was used to determine the volume of Brodmann area (BA) 24 within the ACC and layer V of BA 24, as well as the total number and density of VENs in layer V of BA 24 in both brain hemispheres of 12 male patients with schizophrenia and 11 age-matched male controls. Patients with schizophrenia exhibited a significantly lower mean total number of VENs (-28.3%; p = 0.027). No significant alterations were found in the mean density of VENs (p = 0.128), the mean volume of BA 24 (p = 0.111) and the mean volume of layer V in BA 24 (p = 0.065). The ACC shows massive connections to other cortical and subcortical regions. Furthermore, there is evidence from neuroimaging studies of aberrant connectivity in schizophrenia. The results of the present study may therefore represent a neuroanatomical basis for altered connectivity, possibly leading to deficits in social cognition, in schizophrenia.

• Item Type: Theses (Dissertation, LMU Munich)
• Keywords: schizophrenia, anterior cingulate cortex, area 24, von Economo neuron, stereology, layer V
• Subjects: 600 Technology, Medicine; 600 Technology, Medicine > 610 Medical sciences and medicine
• Faculties: Faculty of Medicine
• Language: German
• Date of oral examination: 11. September 2023
• 1. Referee: Schmitz, Christoph
• Signature of the printed copy: 0700/UMD 21574