Changes in pituitary gland signal intensity and morphology as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging in aging, depression, and by gender

Magnetic resonance images (MRI) were used to measure anterior (A) and posterior (P) pituitary lobe signal intensity changes with age and by gender in 35 normal controls and 19 depressed patients. Females in the control group had a significant increase in both P/A and P/Pons ratios and trended to an increase in the ratio (P-A)/P when compared with the male control group. Depressed females had both a significantly increase P/A ratio and (P-A)/P ratio along with a trended increase in the P/Pons ratio when compared with depressed males. No significant correlation between age and signal intensity were found in either the control or the depressed groups. Nineteen of the controls were age and gender matched with the 19 depressed patients. A significant increase in the (P-A)/P ratio and a trend towards an increase in both the P/A ratio and P/Pons ratio with depression were noted. Changes in shape of the pituitary gland upper border, presence or absence of a posterior pituitary “bright spot,” and changes in signal intensity were then evaluated comparing the two groups. There was no significant difference in “bright spot” frequency between the two groups. The only significant morphological finding was an increased flat shape of the pituitary in female depressed vs. male depressed. Depression 2:303–307 (1994/1995). © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.