Cited by 172Circadian rhythm and melatoninStress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Alterations in arginine vasopressin neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in depression

Zhou, Jiang-Ning, Riemersma, Rixt F., Unmehopa, Unga A., Hoogendijk, Witte J. G., van Heerikhuize, Joop J., Hofman, Michel A., Swaab, Dick F.·2001·Archives of General Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythm disturbances are frequently found in depressed subjects. Although it has been presumed that these disturbances may reflect a disorder of the circadian pacemaker, this has never been established. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the pacemaker of the circadian timing system in mammals, and arginine vasopressin (AVP) is one of its major neuropeptides. As peptide content is often taken as a measure for activity, we hypothesized that a decreased number of AVP-immunoreactive (AVP-IR) neurons and amount of AVP-messenger RNA (mRNA) would be present in the SCN of depressed subjects. METHODS: Brains of 11 subjects suffering from major depression (8 cases) and bipolar disorder (3 cases), and of 11 controls, matched for sex, age, and clock time at death, were collected. The number of AVP-IR neurons in the SCN was determined by means of a digitizer (CalComp Inc, Reading, England). The amount of AVP-mRNA expression in the SCN was quantified with the Interaktive Bild Analyse System image analysis system (Kontron, Munich, Germany). RESULTS: In depressed subjects, the number of AVP-IR neurons in the SCN was more than one and a half times higher than in controls, while the total masked area of silver grains, as an estimate of the amount of AVP-mRNA, was about one half that of controls. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypothesis, an increase in the number of AVP-IR neurons in the SCN in depression was found, together with an expected decrease in AVP-mRNA. These findings suggest that, in depressed patients, both the synthesis and release of AVP in the SCN is reduced, resulting in an impaired functional ability. A disbalance between AVP production and transport needs further investigation in future studies.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archpsyc.58.7.655

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  • Circadian disruption with underlying neuroanatomical changes in the SCN has been demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease and depression.

    “Circadian disruption with underlying neuroanatomical changes in the SCN has been demonstrated in Alzheimer’s disease and depression”

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Authors
Zhou, J.-N., Riemersma, R. F., Unmehopa, U. A., Hoogendijk, W. J. G., van Heerikhuize, J. J., Hofman, M. A., & Swaab, D. F.
Corresponding author
Swaab, Dick F.
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Published
2001-07-01
Volume
58
Issue
7
Pages
655
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2142802556
Cited by
172
References
40
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 13
FWCI
2.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
  • KNAW research portal (Royal Academy of Art and Sciences (KNAW)) (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
vasopressin, suprachiasmatic nucleus, depression, bipolar disorder, circadian rhythm disruption, circadian pacemaker
MeSH terms
Aged, Arginine Vasopressin, Bipolar Disorder, Cause of Death, Cell Count, Circadian Rhythm, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Neurons, RNA, Messenger, Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Gene Expression, Age of Onset

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