Abstract #3582

in vivo Imaging of Dentate Granule Cell Layer Abnormalities in Schizophrenia

Ivan I. Kirov¹, Caitlin Hardy¹,², Kant Matsuda³, Graham Wiggins¹, Ajax George¹, Dolores Malaspina², Oded Gonen¹

¹Radiology, New York University, New York, NY, United States; ²Psychiatry, New York University, New York, NY, United States; ³Pathology, New York University, New York, NY, United States

We used 7 T MRI to compare dentate granule cell layer (DGCL) morphology in schizophrenic patients to matched controls. Three blinded neuroradiologists rated each DGCL on a qualitative scale of 1 to 6 (from not discernable to easily visible, appearing dark gray or black). MRI identification of the DGCL was validated with histopathology. Mean right and left DGCL ratings were 3.21.0 and 3.51.2 in patients versus 3.91.1 and 3.80.8 in controls. The right DGCL was less discernible in schizophrenia patients compared to controls (p0.05), presumably reflecting morphological abnormalities due to cellular organization.