Cited by 80Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersAction Observation and Synchronization

Decreased pyramidal neuron size in Brodmann areas 44 and 45 in patients with autism

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Jacot-Descombes, Sarah, Uppal, Neha, Wicinski, Bridget, Santos, Micaela, Schmeidler, James, Giannakopoulos, Panteleimon, Heinsein, Helmut, Schmitz, Christoph +1 more·2012·Acta Neuropathologica

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and social communication, as well as by the presence of repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and interests. Brodmann areas 44 and 45 in the inferior frontal cortex, which are involved in language processing, imitation function, and sociality processing networks, have been implicated in this complex disorder. Using a stereologic approach, this study aims to explore the presence of neuropathological differences in areas 44 and 45 in patients with autism compared to age- and hemisphere-matched controls. Based on previous evidence in the fusiform gyrus, we expected to find a decrease in the number and size of pyramidal neurons as well as an increase in volume of layers III, V, and VI in patients with autism. We observed significantly smaller pyramidal neurons in patients with autism compared to controls, although there was no difference in pyramidal neuron numbers or layer volumes. The reduced pyramidal neuron size suggests that a certain degree of dysfunction of areas 44 and 45 plays a role in the pathology of autism. Our results also support previous studies that have shown specific cellular neuropathology in autism with regionally specific reduction in neuron size, and provide further evidence for the possible involvement of the mirror neuron system, as well as impairment of neuronal networks relevant to communication and social behaviors, in this disorder.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00401-012-0976-6

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  • Reduced growth of neuronal cell size and dendritic arbors in ASD postmortem cases have long been reported and are now recognized as an important neuropathological attribute of ASD cortex; neuron size reduction varies from −4% in occipital to −18% in prefrontal cortex.

    “Reduced growth of neuronal cell size and dendritic arbors in ASD postmortem cases have long been reported [25, 52] and are now recognized as an important neuropathological attribute of ASD cortex [46]; neuron size reduction varies from −4% in occipital to −18% in prefrontal cortex [24, 40, 53].”

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Authors
Jacot-Descombes, S., Uppal, N., Wicinski, B., Santos, M., Schmeidler, J., Giannakopoulos, P., Heinsein, H., Schmitz, C., & Hof, P. R.
Affiliations
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • University Hospital of Geneva (CH)
  • University of Würzburg (DE)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Corresponding author
Hof, Patrick R.
Venue
Acta Neuropathologica
Published
2012-03-31
Volume
124
Issue
1
Pages
67-79
ISSN
  • 0001-6322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0533
OpenAlex
W2094232765
Cited by
80
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 2
FWCI
5.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Acta Neuropathologica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Autism Speaks (AS6288)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, Brodmann area 44, Brodmann area 45, inferior frontal cortex, pyramidal neurons, neuron size, neuropathology, mirror neuron system, imitation, social communication, stereology
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Autistic Disorder, Cell Count, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Stereotaxic Techniques, Pyramidal Cells, Cell Size, Young Adult

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