Crespo-Facorro B, Kim J, Andreasen N C, O'Leary D S, Bockholt H J, Magnotta V
Mental Health Clinical Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242-1057, USA.
Schizophr Res. 2000 Nov 30;46(1):35-43. doi: 10.1016/s0920-9964(00)00028-1.
The insular cortex is a limbic integration region that is engaged in emotional and cognitive functions. To investigate possible insular cortex abnormalities in schizophrenia, we measured insular gray matter volume and cortical surface size in drug-naive first-episode patients. Magnetic resonance images were used to explore the morphology of the insular cortex of 25 healthy male volunteers, and 25 male schizophrenic patients. Groups were matched for age, sex, height, and parental socio-economic status. Clinical dimension scores were correlated with insular gray matter volume and cortical surface area. Patients had a significant reduction in cortical surface area [patients=2020 (206); controls=2142 (204); F=5.83, df=1, 47; P=0.01] and gray matter volume [patients=8.12 (0.77); controls=8.57 (0.94); F=3.93, df=1,47; P=0.05] in the left insular cortex. Insular gray matter volume and cortical surface size correlated negatively and significantly with the psychotic symptom dimension. Schizophrenic patients show morphological abnormalities in the insular cortex at early stages of the illness. These abnormalities are related to the severity of psychotic symptoms. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the role of the insula in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
岛叶皮质是一个参与情绪和认知功能的边缘系统整合区域。为了研究精神分裂症患者岛叶皮质可能存在的异常，我们测量了未使用过药物的首发患者的岛叶灰质体积和皮质表面积。利用磁共振成像技术探究了25名健康男性志愿者和25名男性精神分裂症患者的岛叶皮质形态。两组在年龄、性别、身高和父母社会经济地位方面相匹配。临床维度评分与岛叶灰质体积和皮质表面积相关。患者左侧岛叶皮质的皮质表面积显著减少[患者=2020(206)；对照组=2142(204)；F=5.83，自由度=1,47；P=0.01]，灰质体积也显著减少[患者=8.12(0.77)；对照组=8.57(0.94)；F=3.93，自由度=1,47；P=0.05]。岛叶灰质体积和皮质表面积与精神病症状维度呈显著负相关。精神分裂症患者在疾病早期岛叶皮质就出现形态异常。这些异常与精神病症状的严重程度有关。需要进一步研究来评估岛叶在精神分裂症病理生理学中的作用。
