Histomorphometric study of basilar artery in normal and suicide persons

BACKGROUND: Depression in association with cerebro-vascular risk factors and white matter lesions is increasingly referred to as ‘vascular depression’. There are several brain areas known for playing a role in patho-physiology of depression which may lead to suicidal tendencies, are fed by basilar artery. Therefore, the arterial histoarchitecture was studied in the normal and suicide individuals to establish a relationship between the vascular structural changes and depression. METHODS: 40 post-mortem samples (both sexes) of basilar artery have been collected and were grouped into normal and suicide groups. Samples were measured for arterial, lumen diameter and the thickness of tunica intima, media and adventitia using H & E stained sections. While, Orcein stained sections were used to estimate the volume fraction of elastic fibres, and Van Gieson stained sections to estimate the volume fraction of collagen fibres. RESULTS: The mean thickness of tunica media of basilar artery in suicide individuals (1.08 microns) showed a statistically significant decrease when compared to normal person (1.33 microns). Further, volume fraction of collagen (0.06 mm(3)/mm(3)) and elastic fibres (0.06 mm(3)/mm(3)) in suicide persons showed a statistically significant decrease when compared to normal person (collagen fibres 0.08 mm(3)/mm(3); elastic fibres 0.09 mm(3)/mm(3)). CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes a probable causative relationship between vascular structural abnormality and depression which may drive the individual to commit suicide.