What is the Origin of Dendritic Atrophy?

The term combines "dendritic," referring to the dendrites of a nerve cell, with "atrophy," which is derived from the Greek atrophia, meaning a wasting away or failure to grow. Early neuroanatomical studies using staining techniques, such as the Golgi stain, revealed the complex architecture of neurons and later allowed researchers to visualize the loss of these intricate branches in diseased or stressed brains. This atrophy is often linked to chronic exposure to high glucocorticoid levels.

What is the Mechanism of Dendritic Atrophy?

Chronic exposure to physiological stressors and the resulting sustained elevation of stress hormones, particularly cortisol, is a major driver of dendritic atrophy in regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These hormones act through glucocorticoid receptors to modulate gene expression, leading to decreased synthesis of necessary structural proteins and impaired neurotrophic factor signaling. The subsequent loss of dendritic spines and branches compromises synaptic plasticity and cognitive function.

Dendritic Atrophy

Meaning

Dendritic Atrophy describes the pathological process of structural degradation and retraction of the dendritic arborizations of a neuron. Dendrites are the branching projections that receive synaptic input from other neurons; therefore, their atrophy signifies a significant reduction in the neuron’s capacity for communication and integration of information. This structural change is a hallmark finding in various neurodegenerative and stress-related psychiatric conditions.