The Effects Of Prenatal Earthquake Stress And Depression On Adult Male Brain Structure

Objective:To investigate the effects of earthquake exposure in fetus and depression on adult male brain structure.Methods:In this study,41 subjects were divided into who exposed to earthquake in fetus(stress group)and who did not experience earthquake(control group),according to the SCID-I/P to make sure stress-induced depression group,stress health group and control group individuals.3.0T magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on all subjects to acquire T1-weighted imaging to assess changes in brain structure.Results:1.Comparison of general conditions and questionnaire scores: except for the age(P=0.001)and HAMD score(P<0.001),there were no significant differences between the groups(P>0.05).2.Comparison of brain structures among the three groups(corrected whole brain volume): The gray matter volume of the left superior frontal gyrus(P=0.031)in the stress healthy group was smaller than that in the control group.The cortical thickness of the left superior frontal gyrus(P=0.046),left superior parietal lobule and postcentral gyrus(P=0.015),and the right superior parietal lobule(P=0.010)in the stress healthy group were lower than that in the control group.The cortical surface area of left superior temporal gyrus(P=0.027)in the stress-induced depression group was smaller than that in the stress healthy group.The gray matter volume of the left superior frontal gyrus(P=0.049),the left superior and middle frontal gyrus(P=0.042)in the stress-induced depression group was smaller than that in the control group.The cortical thickness of left superior frontal gyrus(P=0.012),left superior parietal lobule and postcentral gyrus(P=0.004),right superior parietal lobule(P=0.005),right superior parietal lobule and precuneus(P=0.013)in the stress-induced depression group was lower than that in the control group.The volume of the right amygdala(P=0.022)in the stress-induced depression group was smaller than that in the control group.Conclusions:The prenatal earthquake stress and depression are related to the changes of adult male brain structure,and prenatal earthquake stress has a significant effect on brain structure compared with depression.The interaction between prenatal earthquake stress and depression play a more important role in adult male brain structure changes.