OBJECTIVES: Neuroimaging studies showed lowered blood flow, glucose metabolic rates and hypoactivation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the study was to clear up whether there are abnormalities in the microvasculature in the neocortex in schizophrenia. METHODS: Capillaries were studied in PFC (BA 10) and visual cortex (VC) (BA 17) by electron microscopy and morphometry in 26 schizophrenia cases and 26 normal controls. Capillary diameter and areas of capillaries and of pericapillary astrocytic end-feet were estimated in layers I-II of the prefrontal and visual cortices. RESULTS: Ultrastructural abnormalities of capillaries in schizophrenia included thickening, deformation of basal lamina, vacuolation of cytoplasm of endothelial cells, basal lamina and astrocytic end-feet, swelling of astrocytic end-feet, of pericapillary oligodendrocytes and signs of activation of microglial cells in both PFC and VC. Capillary diameter and area did not differ significantly between the groups. Area of astrocytic end-feet was significantly higher in PFC (+49%, P<0.001) and in VC (+29%, P<0.01) in schizophrenic group and in different clinical subgroups as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrastructural abnormalities of capillaries and of pericapillary cellular environment found suggest that blood-brain barrier dysfunction might contribute to the pathogenesis of cortical lesions in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVES: Neuroimaging studies showed lowered blood flow, glucose metabolic rates and hypoactivation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the study was to clear up whether there are abnormalities in the microvasculature in the neocortex in schizophrenia. METHODS: Capillaries were studied in PFC (BA 10) and visual cortex (VC) (BA 17) by electron microscopy and morphometry in 26 schizophrenia cases and 26 normal controls. Capillary diameter and areas of capillaries and of pericapillary astrocytic end-feet were estimated in layers I-II of the prefrontal and visual cortices. RESULTS:Ultrastructural abnormalities of capillaries in schizophrenia included thickening, deformation of basal lamina, vacuolation of cytoplasm of endothelial cells, basal lamina and astrocytic end-feet, swelling of astrocytic end-feet, of pericapillary oligodendrocytes and signs of activation of microglial cells in both PFC and VC. Capillary diameter and area did not differ significantly between the groups. Area of astrocytic end-feet was significantly higher in PFC (+49%, P<0.001) and in VC (+29%, P<0.01) in schizophrenic group and in different clinical subgroups as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS:Ultrastructural abnormalities of capillaries and of pericapillary cellular environment found suggest that blood-brain barrier dysfunction might contribute to the pathogenesis of cortical lesions in schizophrenia.
Authors: Paulo L Lizano; Matcheri S Keshavan; Neeraj Tandon; Ian T Mathew; Suraj Sarvode Mothi; Debra M Montrose; Jeffrey K Yao Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2015-12-11 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Jun Hua; SeungWook Lee; Nicholas I S Blair; Michael Wyss; Jiri M G van Bergen; Simon J Schreiner; Sonja M Kagerer; Sandra E Leh; Anton F Gietl; Valerie Treyer; Alfred Buck; Roger M Nitsch; Klaas P Pruessmann; Hanzhang Lu; Peter C M Van Zijl; Marilyn Albert; Christoph Hock; Paul G Unschuld Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2019-01-10 Impact factor: 4.673
Authors: Jun Hua; Allison S Brandt; SeungWook Lee; Nicholas I S Blair; Yuankui Wu; Su Lui; Jaymin Patel; Andreia V Faria; Issel Anne L Lim; Paul G Unschuld; James J Pekar; Peter C M van Zijl; Christopher A Ross; Russell L Margolis Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2017-05-01 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Paulo L Lizano; Jeffrey K Yao; Neeraj Tandon; Suraj Sarvode Mothi; Debra M Montrose; Matcheri S Keshavan Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2016-11-15 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: B S Fernandes; J Steiner; H-G Bernstein; S Dodd; J A Pasco; O M Dean; P Nardin; C-A Gonçalves; M Berk Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2015-07-14 Impact factor: 15.992