title: Human prefrontal layer II interneurons in areas 46, 10 and 24.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prefrontal cortex (PFC) represents the highest level of integration and control of psychic and behavioral states. Several dysfunctions such as autism, hyperactivity disorders, depression, and schizophrenia have been related with alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Among the cortical layers of the PFC, layer II shows a particular vertical pattern of organization, the highest cell density and the biggest non-pyramidal/pyramidal neuronal ratio. We currently characterized the layer II cytoarchitecture in human areas 10, 24, and 46.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We focused particularly on the inhibitory neurons taking into account that these cells are involved in sustained firing (SF) after stimuli disappearance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmortem samples from five subjects who died by causes different to central nervous system diseases were studied. Immunohistochemistry for the neuronal markers, NeuN, parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR) were used. NeuN targeted the total neuronal population while the rest of the markers specifically the interneurons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell density and soma size were statically different between areas 10, 46, 24 when using NeuN. Layer II of area 46 showed the highest cell density. Regarding interneurons, PV+-cells of area 46 showed the highest density and size, in accordance to the proposal of a dual origin of the cerebral cortex. Interhemispheric asymmetries were not identified between homologue areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First, our findings suggest that layer II of area 46 exhibits the most powerful inhibitory system compared to the other prefrontal areas analyzed. This feature is not only characteristic of the PFC but also supports a particular role of layer II of area 46 in SF. Additionally, known functional asymmetries between hemispheres might not be supported by morphological asymmetries.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Efrain
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buritica
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Martha Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Hernan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pimienta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D064032:Calbindin 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D064026:Calbindins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D064032:Calbindin 2; D064026:Calbindins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010320:Parvalbumins; C506808:neuronal nuclear antigen NeuN, human
keywords: Cerebral cortex; GABAergic Neurons; Neocortical External Granular Layer; Working Memory; calcium-binding proteins; working memory