Pyramidal cells ensheathed by perineuronal nets in human motor and somatosensory cortex.
This study presents data concerning the distribution of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan-immunoreactive perineuronal nets in sensorimotor areas (Brodmann's areas 3, 1, 2 and 4) of the human cerebral cortex. In addition to previously described subpopulations of nonpyramidal neurons in neocortical areas, many large or medium-sized pyramidal cells in layers III and V, including Betz cells in the motor cortex, were shown to be net-associated and constitute about one-third of all net-associated cells. Such widespread occurrence of perineuronal nets around subpopulations of pyramidal cells is known from macaque monkeys but not from the cortex of myomorph rodents. Thus it appears that a certain proportion of net-associated pyramidal cells distinguishes individual cortical areas in highly evolved primates. This ratio may vary also with respect to species-dependent organization principles in nonprimate mammals.
Department of Neurochemistry, Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Germany.
D
D
Hausen
G
G
Brückner
M
M
Drlicek
W
W
Härtig
K
K
Brauer
V
V
Bigl
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*