Abstract

The striatum (neostriatum) is one of the principal constituents of the basal nuclei. It is a complex structure which consists of a dorsal and the ventral components. According to the spine distribution and their density, neurons of the human striatum can be classified into two main types: spiny and aspiny cells. Further classification recognizes two groups of spiny, and three groups of aspiny neurons. The goal of this study was to analyze different morphometric properties of the digital images of the group IV and group V aspiny neurons, from the dorsal striatum of both cerebral hemispheres. In this study, a total of 175 two-dimensional images of aspiny neurons were analyzed. Image reconstruction and measurement was performed with the specialized, public software Image J. Four parameters of standard fractal analysis were quantified from these binary images. In addition, five textural parameters were obtained by analyzing grayscale images of the entire neuron. Results of both analyses show that six of nine parameters differed between the group IV and group V aspiny neurons. Moreover, in both groups of neurons, one parameter of the fractal and three of the texture analyses differed between the putamen and the caudate nucleus neurons. Thus, this study corroborates previous classification of aspiny neurons. Although they belong to the same aspiny group, different type of cells can qualify nerve signals in their own way. Therefore, this study supports the hypothesis that neuronal morphology differences can reflect their functional diversity and their role in communication.

Highlights

  • The striatum is one of the main components of the basal nuclei, which has a dominant role in controlling motor activity, and participates in the control of various behavioral outputs [1]

  • The dorsal component consists of the putamen and the caudate nucleus, while the ventral one includes the nucleus accumbens and the olfactory tubercle [3]

  • The neostriatum is topographically organized in the sensorimotor, associative and limbic territories, and receives inputs from wide cortical areas

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Summary

Introduction

The striatum (neostriatum) is one of the main components of the basal nuclei, which has a dominant role in controlling motor activity, and participates in the control of various behavioral outputs [1]. The dorsal and the ventral striatum are generally recognized [2]. The most numerous type of nerve cells in the neostriatum are spiny projection neurons, while others are interneurons, or local circuit cells [5]. Their axons do not leave the neostriatum, mainly establishing connections with spiny projection neurons. Its activity is primarily defined by the stimulus brought from the cortex and thalamus [6]

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