Morphofunctional changes in the neuronal environment in suicide

For many years, the topic of the development of suicidal behavior has remained relevant. Every year, there are more reports of new morphological changes in brain tissue, with particular emphasis on the effects of changes and the microenvironment on the functional activity of neurons and the relationship with the development of certain mental diseases. Because morphological changes are not always visible and apparent, immunohistochemical examination for glial fibrillary acid protein might be an additional diagnostic method.

The presented literature review is an analytical evaluation of the current status of the topic of studying the morphology of macroglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and the blood–brain barrier in suicide. According to generalized data, the most characteristic localizations of changes in the development of suicidal behavior are the suture nucleus and prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. There is evidence of a correlation between the development of suicidal behavior and an increase in inflammatory cytokines in the prefrontal cortex, a disruption in the connection between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex, and an indication of the involvement of the shell, striatum, preclinium, and wedge, orbitofrontal cortex in suicidal behavior formation.

When examining the causes of death, determining the characteristic morphology of suicide death can potentially constitute an evidence base for confirming or excluding factors of suicide development.

Further research is needed to form a clearer picture of the changes in relation to the practice of forensic medical examination; nonetheless, immunohistochemical analysis might be considered a potential method of evidence-based understanding suicide factors.