GFAP and major depressive disorder: Decreases in the density and area fraction of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes and in the levels of GFAP protein or GFAP mRNA were also found in fronto-limbic cortical regions, in the CA1 and CA2 subregions of the hippocampus, as well as in subcortical brain regions including locus coeruleus, limbic thalamic nuclei, putamen and the internal capsule from subjects with MDD, revealing dysfunctional astrocytes in MDD.