The Changing Number of Cells in the Human Fetal Forebrain and its Subdivisions: A Stereological Analysis
Abstract
The total number of cells--including both neurons and glial cells - was estimated in the neocortical part of the human fetal telencephalon in 22 normal brains within four major developmental zones: the cortical plate/marginal zone, the subplate, the intermediate zone and the ventricular/subventricular zone. The fetal ages ranged from 13 to 41 weeks of gestation. The cellular growth in the human fetal forebrain appears to be two-phased: one rapid, exponential phase from 13 to 20 weeks of gestation and a second and slower phase, which increases linearly, from approximately 22 weeks of gestation to term. From 13 to 20 weeks of gestation the total number of cells increases by a factor of 4.3 from 3 x 10(9) cells to 13 x 10(9) cells at 20 weeks of gestation. From mid-gestation to term, the total cell number increases by a factor of 2.9 to 38 x 10(9) cells in the newborn infant. Studying cellular growth in the normal human fetal brain is important since it may serve as a useful parameter for the assessment of cortical growth in non-invasive and histological studies, and thus improve the analysis of fetal brain disturbances.
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The number of neurons increases rapidly and peaks between week 13 and 16 of gestation in humans, specifically in the dorsal telencephalon.
“By the time the apical radial glial progenitors within the prefrontal subdomains start dividing asymmetrically, the number of neurons will increase rapidly and peaks between week 13 and 16 of gestation in human (E10-E15 rodents/E43-E50 primates), specifically in the dorsal telencephalon [44–47].”
From Development of prefrontal cortex (2022) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Samuelsen, G. B.
- Affiliations
- Bispebjerg Hospital (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Samuelsen, G. B.
- Venue
- Cerebral Cortex
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2003-02-01
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 115-122
- ISSN
- 1047-3211 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2199
- OpenAlex
- W2103838755
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cerebral Cortex (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Keywords
- telencephalon, cell number estimation, stereology, cortical development, cortical plate, marginal zone, subplate, intermediate zone, ventricular-subventricular zone, glial cells, neurons, gestational age, fetal brain development
- MeSH terms
- Autopsy, Cell Count, Cell Movement, Female, Fetus, Humans, Male, Mitosis, Neuroglia, Neurons, Time Factors, Prosencephalon
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