The changes in AgNOR parameters of dorsal raphe nucleus neurons are related to suicide

Abstract Depression has been established as the main cause of suicide and the research has concentrated on disturbed central serotonergic system in both disorders. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of brain stem is the main source of serotonergic innervation of limbic structures fundamental in the regu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2007-09, Vol.9 (5), p.251-257
Main Authors: Gos, Tomasz, Krell, Dieter, Brisch, Ralf, Bielau, Hendrik, Trübner, Kurt, Bernstein, Hans-Gert, Bogerts, Bernhard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
AgNOR staining
Case-Control Studies
Depression
Dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN)
Female
Forensic Pathology
Forensic Psychiatry
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Middle Aged
Mood Disorders - pathology
Neurons - pathology
Nucleolus Organizer Region - pathology
Postmortem
Raphe Nuclei - pathology
Silver Staining - methods
Suicide
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Summary:Abstract Depression has been established as the main cause of suicide and the research has concentrated on disturbed central serotonergic system in both disorders. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of brain stem is the main source of serotonergic innervation of limbic structures fundamental in the regulation of emotionally influenced behavior. The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded brains from 10 depressive patients, among them 5 suicides and 5 non-suicides and 13 matched mentally healthy controls. The karyometric parameters of DRN neurons were evaluated by AgNOR (Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer) silver staining method. The significant effect of suicide on nuclear area and AgNOR-ratio found in the cumulative analysis of all DRN subnuclei could be relevant for forensic diagnostic. The results suggest DRN neurons hypoactivity specific for suicide. Whether observed phenomenon is a “common trait” existing also in other diagnostic groups of mental disorders remains an open question.
ISSN:1344-6223
1873-4162
DOI:10.1016/j.legalmed.2007.02.001