Shape and Volumetric Differences in the Corpus Callosum between Patients with Major Depressive Disorder and Healthy Controls

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate the morphometric differences in the corpus callosum between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls and analyze their relationship to gray matter changes.Methods Twenty female MDD patients and 21 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. To identify the difference in the regional gray matter concentration (GMC), VBM was performed with T1 magnetic resonance imaging. The shape analysis of the corpus callosum was processed. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fiber-tracking was performed to identify the regional tract pathways in the damaged corpus callosal areas.Results In the shape analysis, regional shape contractions in the rostrum and splenium were found in the MDD patients. VBM analysis showed a significantly lower white matter concentration in the genu and splenium, and a significantly lower GMC in the frontal, limbic, insular, and temporal regions of the MDD patients compared to the HCs. In DTI fiber-tracking, the fibers crossing the damaged areas of the genu, rostrum, and splenium were anatomically connected to the areas of lower GMC in MDD patients.Conclusion These findings support that major depressive disorder may be due to disturbances in multiple neuronal circuits, especially those associated with the corpus callosum.

White matter integrity and medication response to antidepressants in major depressive disorder: a review of the literature

“…Finally, some reviewed studies ( 29 , 35 , 38 ) found higher FA and lower AD in CC between responders and non-responders at the end of antidepressant medications. The CC has been consistently found disrupted in MDD patients, especially the genu, where a decrease of FA, probably connected with a reduction of axonal fibers ( 67 ), has been largely reported ( 68 , 69 ). According to WM neuroanatomy, the axonal fibers originating from genu constitute forceps minor, a well-known clinical biomarker for MDD treatment ( 38 ), and reach the frontal regions ( 70 ).…”

White matter abnormalities are associated with the declined ability of reasoning and problem‐solving in major depressive disorder

“…Thus, regional structural changes in the corpus callosum might contribute to the impaired cognition and emotional regulation. At present, more and more studies have reported the relationship between corpus callosum changes and affective disorders (Lee et al., 2020 ; Lin et al., 2020 ). Studies have found that corpus callosum damage or thinning has been shown to be associated with decreased function in executive function, attention, working memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, and memory tests in both healthy and patient groups (Redmond et al., 2018 ; Van Schependom et al., 2017 ).…”

Decreased Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity and Its Associations with Clinical Correlates following Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Patients with corpus callosotomy exhibited severe, nonreversible interhemispheric connectivity disruption in several brain regions [ 19 ]. In major depressive disorder (MDD), fibers crossing genu, rostrum, and splenium were also reported anatomically damaged, accompanied by damage to the grey matter in the corresponding areas [ 20 ]. The injury of the middle part of CC may serve as an imaging biomarker for generative anxiety disorder (GAD) patients [ 8 ].…”