Naslov
Dynamics of the volume changes of the transient cellular zones in the developing human cerebral wall

Autori
Vasung, Lana ; Evans, Alan ; Kostović, Ivica

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
Neurogenomics and Neuroimaging of Developmental Disorders

Mjesto i datum
Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 30.04.2009. - 05.05.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Subplate; Fetal human brain development; MRI

Sažetak
Fetal cerebral wall is composed of the transient cellular zones witch are sites of neurogenetic events (Bystron et al. 2009). These transient cellular zones can be well delineated on postmortem human brain using MRI (Kostovic et al. Cereb Cortex 2002). In order to obtain quantitative data on their development we have reconstructed and analyzed their dynamic volume changes as prospective indicators of intensities of their predominant neurogenetic events during prenatal development. T1 weighted MRI images of 17ex vivo fetal brains, aged 13-40 PCW, were acquired on 3T Siemens scanner with voxel resolution ranging from 0.25-0.4 mm. We have extracted cortical plate (CP) surface and subplate surface using modified Montreal Neurological Institute toolbox. For reconstruction and volume measurement of transient fetal laminae we have used Analyze 7.0 (Mayo Clinic) software. In the early fetal life, from 9-13 post-conceptual weeks (PCW), fetal cerebrum is organized in thick and densely packed proliferative cellular zones (ventricular/subventricular zone and ganglionic eminence). During this period proliferative zones occupy 1/3 (32 %) of total cerebral volume. The fetal phase (13-24 PCW) is characterized by the appearance and exponential growth of other fetal zones which are sites of intensive fiber ingrowth, synaptic development and neuronal differentiation: (1) intermediate zone, (2) subplate zone and (3) CP. Although proliferative fetal zones during this phase show an increase of volume by the factor of 3.8 the 41.3% of the cerebral volume is occupied by subplate zone at the end of this phase. Finally, during the preterm phase (24-35 PCW) neurogenetic events of cerebral development are reflected trough (1) existence of transient, synapse rich subplate zone, (2) growth and initial myelization of fetal white matter and (3) establishment of adult like cortical laminar pattern. During this phase proliferative zones are showing decrease by a factor of 4, 4 and CP and subplate increases by factor of 5. By the end of this phase CP becomes the thickest lamina showing an exponential volume growth parallel with gradual decrease of subplate. In conclusion, our preliminary results support hypothesis that quantitative MRI parameters of transient fetal laminae can serve as a valuable pointers of intensity of underlying fetal neurogenetic events.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

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