Rieko Watanabe1, Shingo Kakeda1, Keita Watanabe1, Xiaodan Liu1,2, Asuka Katsuki3, Wakako Umeno-Nakano3, Hikaru Hori3, Osamu Abe4, Reiji Yoshimura3, Yukunori Korogi1. 1. Department of Radiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan. 2. Medical imaging center, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. 3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan. 4. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the hippocampal shape deformations and the serum cortisol levels in first-episode and drug-naïve major depression disorder (MDD) patients. METHODS: Thirty first-episode and drug-naïve MDD patients and 40 healthy subjects were recruited. High-resolution T1-weighted imaging and morning blood samples for cortisol measurement were obtained from all MDD patients and healthy subjects. In the hippocampal shape analysis, we compared the hippocampal shape between MDD patients and healthy subjects and evaluated the linear correlation between hippocampal shape deformations and the serum cortisol levels in MDD patients and healthy subjects. RESULTS: MDD patients showed significant inward deformations predominantly in the cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and subiculum in bilateral hippocampi compared to healthy subjects (false discovery rate (FDR) corrected, P < .05). Furthermore, in MDD patients, a significant linear correlation between inward deformations and high cortisol levels were found predominantly in the CA1 and subiculum, extending into the CA2-3 (FDR-corrected, P < .05), whereas no significant linear correlation was observed in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The serum cortisol levels are therefore considered to be associated with hippocampal shape abnormalities in MDD.
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the hippocampal shape deformations and the serum cortisol levels in first-episode and drug-naïve major depression disorder (MDD) patients. METHODS: Thirty first-episode and drug-naïve MDDpatients and 40 healthy subjects were recruited. High-resolution T1-weighted imaging and morning blood samples for cortisol measurement were obtained from all MDDpatients and healthy subjects. In the hippocampal shape analysis, we compared the hippocampal shape between MDDpatients and healthy subjects and evaluated the linear correlation between hippocampal shape deformations and the serum cortisol levels in MDDpatients and healthy subjects. RESULTS:MDDpatients showed significant inward deformations predominantly in the cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and subiculum in bilateral hippocampi compared to healthy subjects (false discovery rate (FDR) corrected, P < .05). Furthermore, in MDDpatients, a significant linear correlation between inward deformations and high cortisol levels were found predominantly in the CA1 and subiculum, extending into the CA2-3 (FDR-corrected, P < .05), whereas no significant linear correlation was observed in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The serum cortisol levels are therefore considered to be associated with hippocampal shape abnormalities in MDD.