Decreased ribosomal DNA transcription in dorsal raphe nucleus neurons differentiates between suicidal and non-suicidal death.
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci
; 266(3): 217-24, 2016 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26590846
ABSTRACT
An involvement of the central serotonergic system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of suicide. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is the main source of serotonergic innervation of forebrain limbic structures disturbed in suicidal behaviour. The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded brainstem blocks containing the DRN obtained from 27 suicide completers (predominantly violent) with unknown psychiatric diagnosis and 30 non-suicidal controls. The transcriptional activity of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in DRN neurons as a surrogate marker of protein biosynthesis was evaluated by the AgNOR silver staining method. Significant decreases in AgNOR parameters suggestive of attenuated rDNA activity were found in the cumulative analysis of all DRN subnuclei in suicide victims versus controls (U test P values < 0.00001). Our findings suggest that the decreased activity of rDNA transcription in DRN neurons plays an important role in suicide pathogenesis. The method accuracy represented by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (>80 %) suggests a diagnostic value of the observed effect. However, the possible application of the method in forensic differentiation diagnostics between suicidal and non-suicidal death needs further research.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Suicidio
/
Transcripción Genética
/
ADN Ribosómico
/
Núcleo Dorsal del Rafe
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci
Asunto de la revista:
NEUROLOGIA
/
PSIQUIATRIA
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Polonia