The ventral lateral posterior nucleus of the thalamus in schizophrenia: a post-mortem study

The ventral lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (VLp) is an integral part of both the cerebello-thalamocortical and the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit. Although both circuits are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, the VLp, has not yet been examined in schizophrenia. Using stereological techniques in the brains of eight patients with schizophrenia and in eight age- and sex-matched controls, we measured the nuclear volume of the VLp and obtained estimates of the total number of neurons in this nucleus. Whole brain volume did not differ between the schizophrenia group and the control group and was not correlated to the volume of the right VLp, or left VLp. The volume (-25%) and the total neuron number(-27%) of the left VLp were significantly reduced in the schizophrenia group. There were no significant differences in the nuclear volume, neuron density and total neuron number in the right VLp between the schizophrenia group and the control group. There were no significant correlations between length of illness and the nuclear volume, neuron density and total neuron number of the left and right VLp. The present results suggest that the total neuron number of the left VLp is reduced in the schizophrenia group, which may reflect disturbed cerebello-thalamocortical and basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits in this disease. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.