AChE-rich magnopyramidal neurons have a left-right size asymmetry in Broca's area.
Acetylcholinesterase-rich neurons (AChERN) are a particular group of pyramidal neurons, displaying a specific laminar and ontogenetic pattern in the cerebral cortex of human and nonhuman primates. Using histochemistry and morphometrical methods, we have found a layer 3 magnopyramidal AChERN left-right size asymmetry restricted to Brodmann's area 45, a component of Broca's language area. This structural feature could be related to functional lateralization associated to syntactic processing and phonological working memory, and is consistent with a non-cholinergic role of AChE possibly linked to neuroplastic processes in the human neocortex.
Departamento de Psiquiatría y Centro de Investigaciones Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Marcoleta 387, Santiago de Chile.
Ricardo R
RR
García
Juan F
JF
Montiel
Aldo U
AU
Villalón
Mario A
MA
Gatica
Francisco
F
Aboitiz
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000166:cytology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000201:enzymology*
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase