Histological examination of choroid plexus epithelia changes in schizophrenia

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe choroid plexus (CP) is suggested to be involved in neuroimmune regulation avia the interaction between central and peripheral inflammation. Quantitative imaging has demonstrated volumetric CP change in psychosis, schizophrenia and depression. This study histologically examines CP epithelial cell morphology in these illnesses to identify the biological source of such volumetric changes.MethodsFormalin-fixed paraffin-embedded FFPE blocks were obtained bilaterally from the lateral ventricles of 13 cases of sex- and age-matched brains from each of schizophrenia (SZ) with psychosis, major depressive disorder (MDD) and matched controls. FFPE blocks were sectioned at 7μm and routinely stained for H&E. Morphological analysis of 180 CP epithelia/case was conducted blindly on digital images collected x600 magnification. Calcification was assessed in all CP regions manually.ResultsLinear General Model analysis shows a significant effect of diagnosis on somal width (p=0.006, r2=0.33, adj=0.25), with a significant difference between SZ non-medicated v non-medicated NPD controls (p=0.032), demonstrating increased somal width in SZ with psychotic medication but not in unmedicated SZ cases. No effects were observed in calcification.DiscussionEpithelial cells examined were adhered to CP fibrous surface so width expansion describes the primary methods for these cells to expand with adherence to this surface. The interaction of antipsychotic medication and diagnosis demonstrates that this is an illness-specific change and mediated through the DA-system, although the mechanism is unclear at present.