Stereological Evaluation of Brain Magnetic Resonance Images of Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Advances in neuroimaging have enabled studies of specific neuroanatomical abnormalities with relevance to schizophrenia. This study quantified structural alterations on brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with schizophrenia. MR brain imaging was done on 88 control and 57 schizophrenic subjects and Dicom images were analyzed with ImageJ software. The brain volume was estimated with the planimetric stereological technique. The volume fraction of brain structures was also estimated. The results showed that, the mean volume of right, left, and total hemispheres in controls were 551, 550, and 1101 cm 3 , respectively. The mean volumes of right, left, and total hemispheres in schizophrenics were 513, 512, and 1026 cm 3 , respectively. The schizophrenics' brains were smaller than the controls (p < 0.05). The mean volume of total white matter of controls (516 cm 3 ) was bigger than the schizophrenics' volume (451 cm 3 ), (p < 0.05). The volume fraction of total white matter was also lower in schizophrenics (p < 0.05). Volume fraction of the lateral ventricles was higher in schizophrenics (p < 0.05). According to the findings, the volumes of schizophrenics' brain were smaller than the controls and the volume fractional changes in schizophrenics showed sex dependent differences. We conclude that stereological analysis of MR brain images is useful for quantifying schizophrenia related structural changes.

White Matter Microstructure Alterations in Early Psychosis and Schizophrenia

“…These patterns of preferentially altered extra-axonal environment are also consistent with reports of global increase in "free water" using the FWI technique in SZ cohorts 35 , although FWI conflates potential pathological mechanisms by defining a tissue compartment (intra-and extra-axonal) vs a free water (CSF) one. The pathological WM changes suggested by WMTI-W are indeed supported by neuroimaging findings beyond dMRI, such as a 14% reduction in WM volume 83 , and ultrastructural post-mortem studies reporting myelinated WM fiber pathology, such as decompacting and splitting of the myelin sheath, inclusions of vacuoles in-between myelin layers, small-axons atrophy, and the presence of swollen or dystrophic oligodendroglia [22][23][24] and microglia 25 . In parallel to these morphological changes, a 27-28% reduction in oligodendrocyte densities were reported in cortical layer III and subcortical areas 21 of SZ specimens.…”

“…Pathological WM changes identified using WMTI-W are further supported by neuroimaging findings beyond dMRI, such as a 14% reduction in WM volume 94 , and ultrastructural post-mortem studies reporting myelinated WM fiber pathology, mainly consequence of the decompacting and splitting of the myelin sheath, but also the inclusions of vacuoles in between myelin layers, small-axons atrophy, and the presence of swollen or dystrophic oligodendroglia 22–24 and microglia 25 . In parallel to these morphological changes, a 27-28% reduction in oligodendrocyte densities were reported in cortical layer III and subcortical areas 21 of SZ brains.…”

The influence of N-Acetylcysteine on locomotor activity, brain oxidative damage, and demyelination in MK-801 model of schizophrenia

“…Similarly, Elfaki et al (2013) reported that there is a statistically signi cant volumetric difference in the white matter of the brain in schizophrenia patients, and the white matter volumes of schizophrenia patients are lower in comparison to those of healthy individuals.…”