The effects of prenatal earthquake stress and depression on adulthood male brain structure

Objective To investigate whether the male adulthood brain volumes changes are correlated to their prenatal earthquake stress experience or suffering depression after birth. Methods A total of 956 adult males born in Tangshan during the earthquake were visited, and finally 41 subjects were recruited with 10 subjects in the stress-depression group (experienced prenatal earthquake stress and developed depression after birth), 18 subjects in stress-health group (experienced prenatal earthquake stress but no history of mental disorders after birth), and 13 blank control. 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on all subjects to record T1-weighted imaging. The curved surface-based morphology approach was employed to analyze the images, and to assess the changes in cortical gray matter volume, cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and subcortical nuclear volume. Results (1) There was significant difference in the age and HAMD17 score among the three groups (P<0.01). (2) Compared with the blank control group and corrected by whole brain volume, the gray matter volume of the left superior frontal gyrus (t=3.889, P=0.031) was significantly smaller in the stress-health group; the cortical thickness of the left superior frontal gyrus (t=4.968, P=0.046), left superior parietal lobule, left postcentral gyrus (t=4.362, P=0.015), and the right superior parietal lobule (t=4.212, P=0.010) significantly reduced in the stress-health group; the gray matter volume of the left superior frontal gyrus (t=4.365, P=0.049), and the left superior and middle frontal gyrus (t=4.231, P=0.042) in the stress-depression group significantly reduced; the cortical thickness of left superior frontal gyrus (t=4.878, P=0.012), left superior parietal lobule, left postcentral gyrus (t=4.741, P=0.004), right superior parietal lobule (t=4.323, P=0.005), right superior parietal lobule and the right precuneus (t=4.523, P=0.013) significantly decreased in the stress-depression group. Furthermore, the cortical surface area of left superior temporal gyrus (t=4.386, P=0.027) in the stress-depression group is significantly smaller than the stress-health group. And the volume of the right amygdala (P=0.022) in the stress-depression group also decreased in comparison with the blank control group. Conclusions The prenatal earthquake stress and later developing depression after birth may result in the change of their adulthood brain volumes, probably with more contribution coming from the prenatal earthquake stress. The biggest change can be observed in the ones who have both factors as a synergistic effect. Key words: Depressive disorder; Stress; Fetus; Brain structure change