Electroconvulsive treatment prevents chronic restraint stress-induced atrophy of the hippocampal formation - A stereological study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Electroconvulsive treatment prevents chronic restraint stress-induced atrophy of the hippocampal formation - A stereological study

AU - Alemu, Johanne L.

AU - Elberling, Frederik

AU - Azam, Bushra

AU - Pakkenberg, Bente

AU - Olesen, Mikkel V.

PY - 2019/2

Y1 - 2019/2

N2 - Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most efficient treatments of major depressive disorder (MDD), although the underlying neurobiology remains poorly understood. There is evidence that ECT and MDD exert opposing effects on the hippocampal formation with respect to volume and number of neurons. However, there has been a paucity of quantitative data in experimental models of ECT and MDD. Methods: Using design-based stereology, we have measured the effects of a stress-induced depression model (chronic restraint stress, CRS) and ECS on the morphology of the hippocampus by estimating the volume and total number of neurons in the hilus, CA1, and CA2/3, as well as in the entire hippocampus. Results: We find that CRS induces a significant decrease in volume exclusively of the hilus and that ECS (CRS + ECS) blocks this reduction. Furthermore, ECS alone does not change the volume or total number of neurons in the entire hippocampus or any hippocampal subdivision in our rat model.

AB - Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most efficient treatments of major depressive disorder (MDD), although the underlying neurobiology remains poorly understood. There is evidence that ECT and MDD exert opposing effects on the hippocampal formation with respect to volume and number of neurons. However, there has been a paucity of quantitative data in experimental models of ECT and MDD. Methods: Using design-based stereology, we have measured the effects of a stress-induced depression model (chronic restraint stress, CRS) and ECS on the morphology of the hippocampus by estimating the volume and total number of neurons in the hilus, CA1, and CA2/3, as well as in the entire hippocampus. Results: We find that CRS induces a significant decrease in volume exclusively of the hilus and that ECS (CRS + ECS) blocks this reduction. Furthermore, ECS alone does not change the volume or total number of neurons in the entire hippocampus or any hippocampal subdivision in our rat model.

KW - cell numbers

KW - chronic restraint stress

KW - electroconvulsive stimulation

KW - hippocampal volumes

U2 - 10.1002/brb3.1195

DO - 10.1002/brb3.1195

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30656862

AN - SCOPUS:85061790601

SN - 2157-9032

VL - 9

JO - Brain and Behavior

JF - Brain and Behavior

IS - 2

M1 - e01195

ER -