Changes in Neuronal Density of the Sensorimotor Cortex and Neurodevelopmental Behaviour in Neonatal Mice with Kaolin-Induced Hydrocephalus

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 244-253
Author(s):  
Omowumi Moromoke Femi-Akinlosotu ◽  
Matthew Temitayo Shokunbi
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Sensorimotor Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Population ◽  
Cresyl Violet ◽  
Neuronal Density ◽  
Negative Geotaxis ◽  
Boundary Definition ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Righting Reflex ◽  
Quantitative Changes

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Hydrocephalus is a disorder in which the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is altered in a manner that leads to its accumulation in the ventricles and subarachnoid space. Its impact on the neuronal density and networks in the overlying cerebral cortex in a time-dependent neonatal hydrocephalic process is largely unknown. We hypothesize that hydrocephalus will affect the cytoarchitecture of the cerebral cortical mantle of neonatal hydrocephalic mice, which will in turn modify sensorimotor processing and neurobehaviour. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of this study is to probe the effect of hydrocephalus on 3 developmental milestones (surface righting reflex, cliff avoidance reflex, and negative geotaxis) and on cortical neuronal densities in neonatal hydrocephalic mice. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Hydrocephalus was induced in 1-day-old mice by intracisternal injection of sterile kaolin suspension. The pups were tested for reflex development and sensorimotor ability using surface righting reflex (PND 5, 7, and 9), cliff avoidance (PND 6), and negative geotaxis (PND 10 and 12) prior to their sacrifice on PND 7, 14, and 21. Neuronal density and cortical thickness in the sensorimotor cortex were evaluated using atlas-based segmentation of the neocortex and boundary definition in 4-μm paraffin-embedded histological sections with hematoxylin and eosin as well as cresyl violet stains. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Surface righting and cliff avoidance activities were significantly impaired in hydrocephalic pups but no statistically significant difference was observed in negative geotaxis in both experimental and control pups. The neuronal density of the sensorimotor cortex was significantly higher in hydrocephalic mice than in age-matched controls on PND 14 and 21 (373.20 ± 21.54 × 10<sup>−6</sup> μm<sup>2</sup> vs. 157.70 ± 21.88 × 10<sup>−6</sup> μm<sup>2</sup>; 230.0 ± 44.1 × 10<sup>−6</sup> μm<sup>2</sup> vs. 129.60 ± 3.72 × 10<sup>−6</sup> μm<sup>2</sup>, respectively; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). This was accompanied by reduction in the cortical thickness (µm) in the hydrocephalic mice on PND 7 (2,409 ± 43.37 vs. 3,752 ± 65.74, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), PND 14 (2,035 ± 322.10 vs. 4,273 ± 67.26, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), and PND 21 (1,676 ± 33.90 vs. 4,945 ± 81.79, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) compared to controls. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In this murine model of neonatal hydrocephalus, the quantitative changes in the cortical neuronal population may play a role in the observed changes in neurobehavioural findings.

scholarly journals Benefits of caloric restriction in the myenteric neuronal plasticity in aging rats

2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 1471-1481 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOICE N.B. PEREIRA ◽  
RENATA B. MARI ◽  
SANDRA R. STABILLE ◽  
HAROLDO G. DE FARIA ◽  
THAIS F.M. MOTA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caloric Restriction ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Neuronal Population ◽  
Normal Diet ◽  
Myenteric Neurons ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Biologic Process ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Effects Of Aging ◽  
Myenteric Plexuses

Aging is a biologic process characterized by progressive damage of structures and functions of organic systems. In gastrointestinal tract, it can involve enteric nervous system, which plays an important role in digestion and absorption of nutrients, causing hastening of intestinal transit thus reducing its absorptive function. Caloric restriction has been used in several studies with the intention of delaying deleterious effects of aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of caloric restriction on myenteric neurons of ileum by aging in rats. 30 Wistar rats were grouped as follows: GI (animals aged 6 months fed with normal diet), GII (animals aged 18 months fed with normal diet) and GIII (animals aged 18 months subject to 31% of caloric restriction). The rats of the GI group were euthanized at 6 months of age and after experimental period of 12 months animals of the group GII and GIII were euthanized, the ileum of all groups were collected, measured and processed by NADPH-dp and Acetylcholinesterase. Quantitative analysis of neurons revealed that aging promotes the increasing of myenteric neurons NADPH-dp and reduces Acetylcholinesterase neuronal population. However, in the cellular profile area, were not observed significant differences between the groups. The caloric restriction has been efficient and can be used preventively because it minimizes quantitative changes associated with aging on ileum myenteric plexuses.

The expression of impersonals in Middle English

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
CAITLIN LIGHT ◽  
JOEL WALLENBERG
Keyword(s):  
Middle English ◽  
New Testament ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
Structural Function ◽  
Passive Construction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Germanic Languages

This article contributes to continuing work on the information structural function of passivization, and how quantitative changes in the implementation of a syntactic strategy may be tied in with the acquisition or loss of comparable strategies. Seoane (2006) outlines a proposal that suggests that the passive construction is used more extensively in English than in the other Germanic languages in order to compensate for the lack of unmarked object topicalization found in languages with verb-seconding (V2). We reconsider this hypothesis from a quantitative perspective and find that, upon further examination, the claim does not hold.We compare parallel New Testament translations along two dimensions: one set across three stages of historical English, and one set across three Germanic languages. We find that the reported change in the rate of passivization between stages of English, and between English and other Germanic languages, is in fact not directly related to the presence or absence of a V2 grammar, but rather due to the availability (or absence) of different strategies of forming impersonal clauses.The current article focuses in more detail on one of the findings of an ongoing study into phenomena linked to the change in passivization in English. While the New Testament translations provide evidence that the overall rate of passivization remains stable across the history of English in one context, we find, in contrast, a significant difference in the rate of passivization between three translations of the Rule of St Benedict. These translations represent an Old English (OE) translation and two Middle English (ME) translations: one Northern, and one Southern. The data reveal a dialect distinction in ME: the Northern translation passivizes at a significantly lower rate.Unlike the New Testament, which is primarily a narrative, the Rule of St Benedict text is written as a set of instructions, and passivization is primarily a strategy for expressing clauses in which no agent can be specified. We find that where the Southern translation of the Rule of St Benedict uses a passive, the Northern translation frequently expresses the same content via an active clause with impersonal man in the subject position. While clauses with impersonal man can be found in both the Northern ME and OE translations of this text, it is wholly absent from the Southern ME translation.This reveals a dialect difference in the ME period: the Southern dialect appears to entirely lack a historically attested strategy for forming impersonal clauses. This, in turn, becomes one factor leading to a rise in the rate of passivization, as passive clauses are used to compensate for the missing strategy.

Cortical thickness in primary sensorimotor cortex influences the effectiveness of paired associative stimulation

NeuroImage ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 864-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Conde ◽  
Henning Vollmann ◽  
Bernhard Sehm ◽  
Marco Taubert ◽  
Arno Villringer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Sensorimotor Cortex ◽  
Paired Associative Stimulation ◽  
Primary Sensorimotor Cortex

scholarly journals Electrocorticographic dissociation of alpha and beta rhythmic activity in the human sensorimotor system

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjen Stolk ◽  
Loek Brinkman ◽  
Mariska J. Vansteensel ◽  
Erik Aarnoutse ◽  
Frans S. S. Leijten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensorimotor Cortex ◽  
Rhythmic Activity ◽  
Neuronal Population ◽  
Imagery Task ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Band Power ◽  
Movement Selection ◽  
Spatiotemporal Coordination ◽  
Phase Relationships

AbstractThis study uses electrocorticography in humans to assess how alpha- and beta-band rhythms modulate excitability of the sensorimotor cortex during movement selection, as indexed through a psychophysically-controlled movement imagery task. Both rhythms displayed effector-specific modulations, tracked spectral markers of action potentials in the local neuronal population, and showed spatially systematic phase relationships (traveling waves). Yet, alpha- and beta-band rhythms differed in their anatomical and functional properties, were weakly correlated, and traveled along opposite directions across the sensorimotor cortex. Increased alpha-band power in the somatosensory cortex ipsilateral to the selected arm was associated with spatially-unspecific inhibition. Decreased beta-band power over contralateral motor cortex was associated with a focal shift from relative inhibition to excitation. These observations indicate the relevance of both inhibition and disinhibition mechanisms for precise spatiotemporal coordination of neuronal populations during movement selection. Those mechanisms are implemented through the substantially different neurophysiological properties of sensorimotor alpha- and beta-band rhythms.

scholarly journals Cortical Bone Modifications after Radiotherapy: Cortex Porosity and Osteonal Changes Evaluated Over Time

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
Juliana Simeão Borges ◽  
Gustavo Davi Rabelo ◽  
Milena Suemi Irie ◽  
João Lucas Carvalho Paz ◽  
Rubens Spin-Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Bone ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Bone Microarchitecture ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Bone Volume ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Area And Perimeter ◽  
Haversian Canals

Abstract Aiming to evaluate cortical bone microarchitecture and osteonal morphology after irradiation, twelve male New Zealand rabbits were used. The animals were divided: control group (no radiation-NIr); and 3 irradiated groups, sacrificed after: 7 (Ir7d); 14 (Ir14d) and 21 (Ir21d) days. A single radiation dose of 30 Gy was used. Computed microtomography analyzed the cortical microarchitecture: cortical thickness (CtTh), bone volume (BV), total porosity (Ct.Po), intracortical porosity (CtPo-cl), channel/pore number (Po.N), fractal dimension (FD) and degree of anisotropy (Ct.DA). After scan, osteonal morphology was histologically assessed by means: area and perimeter of the osteons (O.Ar; O.p) and of the Haversian canals (C.Ar; C.p). Microtomographic analysis were performed by ANOVA, followed by Tukey and Dunnet tests. Osteon morphology analyses were performed by Kruskal-Wallis, and test Dunn’s. Cortical thickness was significant difference (p<0.010) between the NIr and irradiated groups, with thicker cortex at Ir7d (1.15±0.09). The intracortical porosity revealed significant difference (p<0.001) between irradiated groups and NIr, with lower value for Ir7d (0.29±0.09). Bone volume was lower in Ir14d compared to control. Area and perimeter of the osteons were statistically different (p<0.0001) between NIr and Ir7d. Haversian canals also revealed lower values (p<0.0001) in Ir7d (80.57±9.3; 31.63±6.5) compared to NIr and irradiated groups. Cortical microarchitecture was affected by radiation, and the effects appear to be time-dependent, mostly regarding the osteons morphology at the initial days. Cortex structure in Ir21d revealed similarities to control suggesting that microarchitecture resembles normal condition after a period.

scholarly journals Gender Brain Structural Differences and Interoception

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariachiara Longarzo ◽  
Giulia Mele ◽  
Vincenzo Alfano ◽  
Marco Salvatore ◽  
Carlo Cavaliere
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Female Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Gray Matter Volumes

Interoception, the ability to perceive inner body sensations, has been demonstrated to be different among genders, with a stronger female attention toward interoceptive information. No study correlated this capability with brain differences between males and females. This study aims to detect behavioral variances and structural neuroimaging interoception correlates in a sample of healthy volunteers matched for age. Seventy-three participants (37 females, mean age 43.5; 36 males, mean age 37.4) completed the Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) for interoceptive sensibility and underwent a structural MRI session. A t test corrected for Bonferroni multiple comparisons was performed to compare brain morphological parameters (cortical thickness and parcel volume) in both groups. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to assess the effect of gender on scores obtained on the SAQ. A moderation model through multiple linear regression analysis was performed between gray matter volumes or parcels, cortical thickness, and the interoception score. Group analysis showed significant differences in morphometric brain data between males and females, both for cortical and subcortical volumes, but not for cortical thickness analyses. MANOVA underlined a significant difference in SAQ scores between males and females with higher values for the second ones. Moreover, a significant correlation between the interoception scores and gray matter volumes of the two groups has been detected, with a sharp prevalence for the female gender in the left insula with F1, F2, and SAQ interoception scores (R2 = 0.41, p &lt; 0.001). Our results demonstrated that in the female group, a stronger predisposition was found toward interoceptive sensations, and that multiple brain areas were correlated with interoceptive measure. These data sustain a female advantage in the attention toward this process and support the idea that interoception in females is a process more shared across several regions that participate in creating the sense of self.

scholarly journals Chicken or the thumb? Comparing chicken femora with human metacarpals

2021 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-201
Author(s):  
N Sargazi ◽  
Y Oskrochi ◽  
J Houghton ◽  
B Rai ◽  
D Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Simulation Training ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Hand Surgery ◽  
Medullary Canal ◽  
Radius Of Curvature ◽  
P Value ◽  
Canal Diameter ◽  
Metacarpal Bones ◽  
Significant Difference

Introduction While the gold standard for simulation training in hand surgery is cadaveric hands, ethical issues and cost limit their use. Chicken thighbones have been utilised to replicate human metacarpals but there is a lack of literature to validate such a model. The aim of this study was to determine whether chicken femurs are morphologically similar to human metacarpal bones. Methods Computed tomography imaging was obtained of hands undertaken at our institute between 1 January and 31 December 2015. A total of 114 chicken thighs were also scanned. Bones with previous trauma or incomplete imaging were excluded. Bone length, distance to isthmus, radius of curvature, medullary canal diameter and cortical thickness were compared between the groups. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test, with statistical significance implied with a p-value of < 0.05. Results A total of 146 human CT scans were identified, of which 36 were included in the study, resulting in 158 human metacarpals in 5 female and 31 male patients, with an average age of 39.5 years (range: 16–77 years). Of 114 chickens scanned, 101 were suitable for analysis. Mean length, distance to isthmus, radius of curvature, medullary canal diameter and cortical thickness were 57.3mm (standard deviation [SD]: 8.7mm), 32.9mm (SD: 8.2mm), 68.8mm (SD: 19.5mm), 9.3mm (SD: 1.6mm) and 1.7mm (SD: 0.4mm) respectively in human metacarpals, compared with 66.7mm (SD: 5.1mm), 34.1mm (SD: 6.4mm), 89.1mm (SD: 15.1mm), 6.4mm (SD: 0.6mm) and 1.6mm (SD: 0.1mm) respectively in chicken femurs. There was no significant difference in bone geometry between the groups, with p-values of >0.05 for all parameters described. Conclusions The chicken thigh model provides an anatomically suitable and more cost effective alternative to human cadaveric metacarpals in simulation training for hand surgery.

scholarly journals Exploring Cortical Thickness Alteration in Parkinson Disease Patients with Freezing of Gaits

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
E. Li ◽  
Xiuhang Ruan ◽  
Yuting Li ◽  
Guoqin Zhang ◽  
Mengyan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Freezing Of Gait ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mri Protocol ◽  
Advanced Stages ◽  
The Right

Background: Freezing of gait (FoG) is a disabling gait disorder that commonly occurs in advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying FoG in PD are still unclear. The present study aims to explore alterations of structural gray matter (GM) in PD patients with FoG. Method: Twenty-four PD patients with FoG (FoG+), 37 PD patients without FoG (FoG-) and 24 healthy controls (HC) were included. All subjects underwent a standardized MRI protocol. The cortical thickness (CTh), segmentation volume without ventricles (BrainSegVolNotVent) and estimated total intracranial volume (eTIV) were analysed using the FreeSurfer pipeline. Results: CTh differences were found in the right middle temporal gyrus (rMTG) generally. Compared to that in HCs, the CTh of the rMTG in both the FoG+ and FoG- groups was smaller, while no significant difference between the FoG+ and FoG- groups. Correlation analyses demonstrated a negative correlation between the CTh of the rMTG and the UPDRS part II score in PD subjects, and a borderline significant correlation between the score of Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FoGQ) and rMTG CTh. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis revealed a cut-off point of CTh =3.08 mm in the rMTG that could be used to differentiate PD patients and HCs (AUC =0.79, P <0.01). There were no differences in the BrainSegVolNotVent or eTIV among the 3 groups. Conclusions: Our findings currently suggest no significant difference between FoG+ and FoG- patients in terms of structural gray matter changes. However, decreased CTh in the rMTG related to semantic control may be used as a biomarker to differentiate PD patients and HCs.

scholarly journals Electrocorticographic dissociation of alpha and beta rhythmic activity in the human sensorimotor system

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjen Stolk ◽  
Loek Brinkman ◽  
Mariska J Vansteensel ◽  
Erik Aarnoutse ◽  
Frans SS Leijten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensorimotor Cortex ◽  
Rhythmic Activity ◽  
Neuronal Population ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Band Power ◽  
Spatiotemporal Coordination ◽  
Contralateral Motor ◽  
Relative Inhibition ◽  
Phase Relationships

This study uses electrocorticography in humans to assess how alpha- and beta-band rhythms modulate excitability of the sensorimotor cortex during psychophysically-controlled movement imagery. Both rhythms displayed effector-specific modulations, tracked spectral markers of action potentials in the local neuronal population, and showed spatially systematic phase relationships (traveling waves). Yet, alpha- and beta-band rhythms differed in their anatomical and functional properties, were weakly correlated, and traveled along opposite directions across the sensorimotor cortex. Increased alpha-band power in the somatosensory cortex ipsilateral to the selected arm was associated with spatially-unspecific inhibition. Decreased beta-band power over contralateral motor cortex was associated with a focal shift from relative inhibition to excitation. These observations indicate the relevance of both inhibition and disinhibition mechanisms for precise spatiotemporal coordination of movement-related neuronal populations, and illustrate how those mechanisms are implemented through the substantially different neurophysiological properties of sensorimotor alpha- and beta-band rhythms.

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