Microstructure of the neocortex: comparative aspects
Abstract
The appearance of the neocortex, its expansion, and its differentiation in mammals, represents one of the principal episodes in the evolution of the vertebrate brain. One of the fundamental questions in neuroscience is what is special about the neocortex of humans and how does it differ from that of other species? It is clear that distinct cortical areas show important differences within both the same and different species, and this has led to some researchers emphasizing the similarities whereas others focus on the differences. In general, despite of the large number of different elements that contribute to neocortical circuits, it is thought that neocortical neurons are organized into multiple, small repeating microcircuits, based around pyramidal cells and their input-output connections. These inputs originate from extrinsic afferent systems, excitatory glutamatergic spiny cells (which include other pyramidal cells and spiny stellate cells), and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. The problem is that the neuronal elements that make up the basic microcircuit are differentiated into subtypes, some of which are lacking or highly modified in different cortical areas or species. Furthermore, the number of neurons contained in a discrete vertical cylinder of cortical tissue varies across species. Additionally, it has been shown that the neuropil in different cortical areas of the human, rat and mouse has a characteristic layer specific synaptology. These variations most likely re…
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Forward connections arise largely in superficial pyramidal cells, in supra-granular layers, and terminate on spiny stellate cells of layer four in higher cortical areas.
“Forward connections arise largely in superficial pyramidal cells, in supra-granular layers and terminate on spiny stellate cells of layer four in higher cortical areas [40],[46].”
From Hierarchical Models in the Brain (2008) · cites this paper as [46]
A clear preference of glutamatergic axons (forming AS) for dendritic spines and of GABAergic axons (forming SS) for dendritic shafts is reported in the literature.
“A clear preference of glutamatergic axons (forming AS) for dendritic spines and GABAergic axons (forming SS) for dendritic shafts is reported in the literature (reviewed in DeFelipe et al., 2002; for a recent study, see Cano-Astorga et al., 2023).”
From Unambiguous identification of asymmetric and symmetric synapses using volume electron microscopy (2024) · cites this paper as DeFelipe et al., 2002
A depth of 1 mm in the gray matter approximately corresponds to neuronal layers I-III and IV-VI, respectively.
“which approximately corresponds to neuronal layers I–III and IV–VI of the GM, respectively [90]”
From Gliovascular alterations in sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease: <scp><i>APOE3</i></scp> Christchurch homozygote glioprotection (2023) · cites this paper as [90]
GFAP astrocytes were almost limited to layer II in CNT, while they were abundant throughout layers I-III in AD.
“Consistent with previous reports [90, 91] and similar to vimentin, GFAP astrocytes were almost limited to layer II in CNT, while they were abundant throughout layers I–III in AD.”
From Gliovascular alterations in sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease: <scp><i>APOE3</i></scp> Christchurch homozygote glioprotection (2023) · cites this paper as [90]
Vimentin and GFAP link astrocyte structure and gliovascular function, and are associated with cytoplasmic proteins participating in signal transduction pathways.
“Vimentin and GFAP link astrocyte structure and gliovascular function [90, 92], and are associated with cytoplasmic proteins [92] participating in signal transduction pathways [44, 45, 106, 107].”
From Gliovascular alterations in sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease: <scp><i>APOE3</i></scp> Christchurch homozygote glioprotection (2023) · cites this paper as [90]
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- Authors
- DeFelipe, J., Alonso-Nanclares, L., & Arellano, J. I.
- Affiliations
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- Corresponding author
- DeFelipe, Javier
- ORCID
- DeFelipe, Javier
- Venue
- Journal of Neurocytology
- Published
- 2002-03
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3-5
- Pages
- 299-316
- ISSN
- 0300-4864 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-7381
- OpenAlex
- W1599549671
- Cited by
- 686
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 3.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neurocytology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- neocortex, cortical microcircuits, pyramidal neurons, GABAergic interneurons, synaptology, cortical laminar organization, neuronal cell types
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cell Count, Biological Evolution, Humans, Microscopy, Electron, Species Specificity, Synapses, Neocortex, Neuropil
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