Structural asymmetry of the basal nucleus of Meynert in men and women

Abstract

The structure of Meynert's nucleus was studied using quantitative neurohistological measures in 11 cases from the collection of the Institute of the Brain, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. The set consisted of seven men and four women aged 19-60 years (apart from one aged 70 years) and were patients who had died suddenly with no history of neurological or mental diseases. The following parameters were measured: neuron field profile, neuron density, total and satellite glial density, and the proportion of glia consisting of satellite glia and the proportion of neurons surrounded by satellites. All individual measures were analyzed statistically and differences between the hemispheres were determined. On a background of a large spread in individual values, there was significant asymmetry in neuron field profile area in different directions in men and women and tendencies to a greater neuron density on the left and a greater glial cell density on the right. Measures of satellite glia showed particularly large variation, with the result that the only identifiable result was a greater proportion of satellite-surrounded neurons in the right hemisphere. Overall, there was a tendency to somewhat greater asymmetry in the structure of this nucleus in men.