Purpose. Changes in calbindin (CB) expression have been reported in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with controversial\nimplications on hippocampal functions. The aim of this study was to determine the CB immunoreactivity in hippocampal dentate\ngyrus of patients who underwent epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant TLE with and without comorbid depression and/or memory\ndeficits. Methods. Selected hippocampal samples from patients with TLE who underwent epilepsy surgery were included. Clinical\nand complementary assessment: EEG, video-EEG, MRI, psychiatric assessment (structured clinical interview, DSM-IV), and\nmemory assessment (Rey auditory verbal learning test, RAVLT; Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, RCFT), were determined\nbefore surgery. Hippocampal sections were processed using immunoperoxidase with the anti-calbindin antibody. The\nsemiquantitative analysis of CB immunoreactivity was determined in dentate gyrus by computerized image analysis (ImageJ).\nResults. Hippocampal sections of patients with TLE and HS (n = 24) and postmortem controls (n = 5) were included. A\nsignificant reduction of CB+ cells was found in patients with TLE (p < 0 05, Studentâ??s t-test). Among TLE cases (n = 24),\ndepression (n = 12) and memory deficit (n = 17) were determined. Depression was associated with a higher % of cells with the\nCB dendritic [removed]CB-sprouted cells) (F 1, 20 = 11 81, p = 0 003, hp2 = 0 37), a higher CB+ area (micro m2) (F 1, 20 = 5 33,\np = 0 032, hp2 = 0 21), and a higher optical density (F 1, 20 = 15 09, p = 0 001, hp2 = 0 43) (two-way ANOVA). The GAF scale\n(general assessment of functioning) of DSM-IV inversely correlated with the % of CB-sprouted cells (r = -0 52, p = 0 008) and\nwith the CB+ area (r = -0 46, p = 0 022). Conclusions. In this exploratory study, comorbid depression was associated with a\ndifferential pattern of CB cell loss in dentate gyrus combined with a higher CB sprouting. These changes may indicate granular\ncell dysmaturation associated to the epileptic hyperexcitability phenomena. Further investigations should be carried out to\nconfirm these preliminary findings.
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