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Brain, Vol. 116, No. 4, 795-809, 1993
© 1993 Guarantors of Brain

research-article

Decreased number of oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the human hypothalamus in AIDS

Jan S. Purba1, Michel A. Hofman1, Peter Portegies2, Dirk Troost3 and Dick F. Swaab1

1Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Graduate School of Neurosciences Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2Department of Neurology Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Correspondence to: J S. Purba, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, IWO Building, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam (ZO), The Netherlands

The number of immunocytochemically identified vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) neurons was determined morphometrically in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of 20 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and 10 controls. The AIDS group consisted of 14 homosexual males (age range 25–62 years), four of whom had a probable HIV-1 associated dementia complex, and six non-demented heterosexuals(four males and two females, age range 21– 73 years). Ten males without a primary neurological or psychiatric disease served as a control group.

The number of OXT-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of both groups of AIDS patients was ~ 40% lower than that of the controls. In contrast, the three groups showed no significant differences in the number of AVP-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus. Since there were no significant differences in the number of AVP and OXT cells between the homosexual and heterosexual subjects with AIDS, the morphological difference in the paraventricular nucleus seems to be related to AIDS and not to sexual orientation.

No inflammatory changes were found in the paraventricular nucleus area. The selective changes in the OXT neurons of the paraventricular nucleus may be the basis for part of the neuroendocrine, autonomic dysfunction or vegetative symptoms in AIDS.

Received January 25, 1993. Accepted March 27, 1993.


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