Minicolumnar width: Comparison between supragranular and infragranular layers

J Neurosci Methods. 2009 Oct 30;184(1):19-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.07.011. Epub 2009 Jul 16.

Abstract

The minicolumn derives from the radial migration of neurons along glial scaffoldings during gestation. Investigators have presumed the minicolumn to be a single-cell wide structure based on their rectilinear migratory origin. The present study measures the width of minicolumnar cores in both supra- and infra-granular layers. Postmortem tissue was obtained from 9 brain areas in 7 normative individuals. Examined tissues were celloidin embedded and Nissl stained. Digital images were denoised and then analyzed with a step-wise algorithm involving region growing and recursive line tracing. Significant differences were noted between the minicolumnar core widths of supra- and infra-granular layers. A review of the literature on corticogenesis provides some ideas as to how these laminar differences in minicolumnar core width are engendered.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Male
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Normal Distribution
  • Young Adult