title: Topography of Gng2- and NetrinG2-expression suggests an insular origin of the human claustrum.
abstract: The claustrum has been described in the forebrain of all mammals studied so far. It has been suggested that the claustrum plays a role in the integration of multisensory information: however, its detailed structure and function remain enigmatic. The human claustrum is a thin, irregular, sheet of grey matter located between the inner surface of the insular cortex and the outer surface of the putamen. Recently, the G-protein gamma2 subunit (Gng2) was proposed as a specific claustrum marker in the rat, and used to better delineate its anatomical boundaries and connections. Additional claustral markers proposed in mammals include Netrin-G2 in the monkey and latexin in the cat. Here we report the expression and distribution of Gng2 and Netrin-G2 in human post-mortem samples of the claustrum and adjacent structures. Gng2 immunoreactivity was detected in the neuropil of the claustrum and of the insular cortex but not in the putamen. A faint labelling was present also in the external and extreme capsules. Double-labelling experiments indicate that Gng2 is also expressed in glial cells. Netrin-G2 labelling was seen in neuronal cell bodies throughout the claustrum and the insular cortex but not in the medially adjacent putamen. No latexin immunoreactive element was detected in the claustrum or adjacent structures. Our results confirm that both the Gng2 and the Netrin-G2 proteins show an affinity to the claustrum and related formations also in the human brain. The presence of Gng2 and Netrin-G2 immunoreactive elements in the insular cortex, but not in the putamen, suggests a possible common ontogeny of the claustrum and insula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pirone
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edelstein
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peruffo
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quilici
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075385:Netrins; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C410342:GNG2 protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C463083:NTNG2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000075385:Netrins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins