Architectonics of the Anterior Dorsal and Reticular Nuclei of the Thalamus in Women

• Published in: Neuroscience and behavioral physiology 2012-10, Vol.42 (8), p.880-884
• Main Authors: Amunts, V. V., Antyukhov, A. D., Bogolepova, I. N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Gender differences; Indexing in process; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurons; Neurosciences; Women
• ISSN: 0097-0549; 1573-899X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-012-9653-4

Quantitative neurohistochemical parameters were used to study the comparative architectonics of two thalamic nuclei: the anterior dorsal and reticular. The cohort consisted of five cases from the collection of the Neurology Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Five women aged 19–33 years were studied; these were right-handed and had died suddenly without having suffered from neurological or mental disorders during life. The following parameters were measured: the densities of neurons, satellite glial cells, and neurons surrounded by satellite glial cells. Individual variability in neuron density was found to be greater in the reticular nucleus than the anterior dorsal nucleus. Variability in the density of satellite glial cells was greater in the anterior dorsal nucleus. Levels of variability in the density of neurons surrounded by satellite glial cells were similar in both nuclei. Interhemisphere asymmetry was demonstrated: neuron density and satellite glial cell density were greater in the anterior dorsal nuclei of the left hemisphere than that of the right hemisphere. The density of neurons surrounded by satellite glial cells in the anterior dorsal nucleus was greater in the left hemisphere, while that in the reticular nucleus was greater in the right hemisphere.