Reduced Neuronal Size and Glial Cell Density in Area 9 of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Subjects with Major Depressive Disorder

Reductions in glial cell density and neuronal size have been described recently in major depressive disorder (MDD). Considering the important trophic influence of glia on neurons, we hypothesized that this glial cell deficit is more prominent close to neurons. In this investigation we have characterized neuronal and glia cytoarchitecture in prefrontal area 9 using spatial point pattern techniques and two-dimensional measures of cell size and density. In post-mortem brain tissue of subjects with MDD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BPD), and normal controls (15 subjects per group), we examined the laminar location and size of all neurons and glial nuclei in a 500 microm wide strip of cortex extending from the…