Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rubinow, MJ; Mahajan, G; May, W; Overholser, JC; Jurjus, GJ; Dieter, L; Herbst, N; Steffens, DC; Miguel-Hidalgo, JJ; Rajkowska, G; Stockmeier, CA
Published in: Brain Struct Funct
January 2016

Functional imaging studies consistently report abnormal amygdala activity in major depressive disorder (MDD). Neuroanatomical correlates are less clear: imaging studies have produced mixed results on amygdala volume, and postmortem neuroanatomic studies have only examined cell densities in portions of the amygdala or its subregions in MDD. Here, we present a stereological analysis of the volume of, and the total number of, neurons, glia, and neurovascular (pericyte and endothelial) cells in the basolateral amygdala in MDD. Postmortem tissues from 13 subjects with MDD and 10 controls were examined. Sections (~15/subject) taken throughout the rostral-caudal extent of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were stained for Nissl substance and utilized for stereological estimation of volume and cell numbers. Results indicate that depressed subjects had a larger lateral nucleus than controls and a greater number of total BLA neurovascular cells than controls. There were no differences in the number or density of neurons or glia between depressed and control subjects. These findings present a more detailed picture of BLA cellular anatomy in depression than has previously been available. Further studies are needed to determine whether the greater number of neurovascular cells in depressed subjects may be related to increased amygdala activity in depression.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Brain Struct Funct

DOI

EISSN

1863-2661

Publication Date

January 2016

Volume

221

Issue

1

Start / End Page

171 / 184

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Pericytes
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neuroglia
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Endothelial Cells
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Rubinow, M. J., Mahajan, G., May, W., Overholser, J. C., Jurjus, G. J., Dieter, L., … Stockmeier, C. A. (2016). Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study. Brain Struct Funct, 221(1), 171–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0900-z
Rubinow, Marisa J., Gouri Mahajan, Warren May, James C. Overholser, George J. Jurjus, Lesa Dieter, Nicole Herbst, et al. “Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study.Brain Struct Funct 221, no. 1 (January 2016): 171–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0900-z.
Rubinow MJ, Mahajan G, May W, Overholser JC, Jurjus GJ, Dieter L, et al. Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study. Brain Struct Funct. 2016 Jan;221(1):171–84.
Rubinow, Marisa J., et al. “Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study.Brain Struct Funct, vol. 221, no. 1, Jan. 2016, pp. 171–84. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00429-014-0900-z.
Rubinow MJ, Mahajan G, May W, Overholser JC, Jurjus GJ, Dieter L, Herbst N, Steffens DC, Miguel-Hidalgo JJ, Rajkowska G, Stockmeier CA. Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study. Brain Struct Funct. 2016 Jan;221(1):171–184.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Struct Funct

DOI

EISSN

1863-2661

Publication Date

January 2016

Volume

221

Issue

1

Start / End Page

171 / 184

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Pericytes
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neuroglia
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Endothelial Cells