Minicolumnar pathology in autism.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether differences exist in the configuration of minicolumns between the brains of autistic and control patients.


BACKGROUND
Autism is a severe and pervasive developmental disturbance of childhood characterized by disturbances in both social interactions and communication, as well as stereotyped patterns of interests, activities, and behaviors. Postmortem neuropathologic studies remain inconclusive.


METHODS
The authors used a computerized imaging program to measure details of cell column morphologic features in area 9 of the prefrontal cortex and areas 21 and posterior 22 (Tpt) within the temporal lobe of nine brains of autistic patients and controls.


RESULTS
The authors found significant differences between brains of autistic patients and controls in the number of minicolumns, in the horizontal spacing that separates cell columns, and in their internal structure, that is, relative dispersion of cells. Specifically, cell columns in brains of autistic patients were more numerous, smaller, and less compact in their cellular configuration with reduced neuropil space in the periphery.


CONCLUSIONS
In autism, there are minicolumnar abnormalities in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Casanova
Manuel F
MF
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30910, USA. casanova@np2.mcg.edu
Buxhoeveden
Daniel P
DP
Switala
Andrew E
AE
Roy
Emil
E
D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D019581:Neuropil / Q000473:pathology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*