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Spindle neurons of the human anterior cingulate cortexThe human anterior cingulate cortex is distinguished by the presence of an unusual cell type, a large spindle neuron in layer Vb. This cell has been noted numerous times in the historical literature but has not been studied with modern neuroanatomic techniques. For instance, details regarding the neuronal class to which these cells belong and regarding their precise distribution along both ventrodorsal and anteroposterior axes of the cingulate gyrus are still lacking. In the present study, morphological features and the anatomic distribution of this cell type were studied using computer-assisted mapping and immunocytochemical techniques. Spindle neurons are restricted to the subfields of the anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann's area 24), exhibiting a greater density in anterior portions of this area than in posterior portions, and tapering off in the transition zone between anterior and posterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, a majority of the spindle cells at any level is located in subarea 24b on the gyral surface. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that the neurofilament protein triple was present in a large percentage of these neurons and that they did not contain calcium-binding proteins. Injections of the carbocyanine dye DiI into the cingulum bundle revealed that these cells are projection neurons. Finally, spindle cells were consistently affected in Alzheimer's disease cases, with an overall loss of about 60%. Taken together, these observations indicate that the spindle cells of the human cingulate cortex represent a morphological subpopulation of pyramidal neurons whose restricted distribution may be associated with functionally distinct areas.
Document ID
20050000204
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Nimchinsky, E. A.
(Fishberg Research Center for Neurobiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York, NY 10029, United States)
Vogt, B. A.
Morrison, J. H.
Hof, P. R.
Bloom, F. E.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
April 24, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: The Journal of comparative neurology
Volume: 355
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0021-9967
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: AG11480
CONTRACT_GRANT: AG05138
CONTRACT_GRANT: MH45212
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Neuroscience

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