Estimation of Mean Nuclear Volume of Neocortical Neurons in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Cases Using the Nucleator Estimator Technique

Abstract

At present, no information is available with regards to either neocortical neuronal mean nuclear volume or maturation (functional or morphological) in abnormal paediatric brains. Using the nucleator estimator technique, the mean neocortical nuclear volume was estimated in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases [10 normal birth weight (NBW) and 10 low birth weight (LBW) cases classified by birth weight for gestational age] and compared to 10 NBW control cases. Both the control and SIDS LBW cases showed an increase in mean nuclear volume with age; the SIDS NBW cases showed no increase. At 8 months, the SIDS NBW cases showed a reduced mean nuclear volume (p = 0.02) when compared to controls. The SIDS LBW cases showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.10) when compared with controls. A deficiency in mean neuronal nuclear volume may represent a deficiency in neuronal function.

Review: Neuropathological features of unexplained sudden unexpected death in infancy: current evidence and controversies

“…Two studies have examined the neurones and glia of the cerebral cortex [52,53] however neither met the criteria for inclusion.…”

Risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome and risk factors for sleep disturbances

“…Brain-stem gliosis is commonly reported and is usually interpreted as the result of cerebral hypo-perfusion and chronic hypoxia (Kinney, 2009), as well as a sign of delayed brain maturation (Kelmanson, 1994(Kelmanson, /1995. Other reported morphologic findings in SIDS victims are: persistence of the neuronal dendritic spines in the reticular formation (Quattrochi, McBride, & Yates, 1985) potentially associated with abnormal respiratory control (Oehmichen, 1990), reduced number of the cerebellar cortex neurons (Oehmichen, Wullen, Zilles, & Saternus, 1989), dorsal motor nucleus neurons of the n. vagus (Ansari, Sibbons, Parsons, & Rossi, 2002), delayed brain stem myelination (Oehmichen, 1990), and reduced mean nucleus volume of neocortical neurons (Ansari, Sibbons, & Howard, 2001). There are some reports of a reduced number of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (Ozawa, Takashima, & Tada, 2003), reduced choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity (Mallard, Tolcos, Leditschke, Campbell, & Rees, 1999) in the brainstem, and deficiency in catecholaminergic neurons in the diencephalon and basal ganglia (Ozawa et al, 1999).…”

The role of stereology in the study of placental transfer between fetal foal and mare

“…Perfusion fixation prevents collapse of the fetal vascular space but, certainly in man, rat and pig, it does not change the physical parameters of other placental components and, from a morphological viewpoint, it is the physical area of potential exchange that seems to be crucial for the wellbeing of the fetus and this will not be changed by immersion fixation. This is the approach taken by Allen et al (2002) and Wilsher and Allen (2003), who used stereology to define the maternofetal exchange surface area after studies by Mayhew (2003) and Mayhew et al (1997Mayhew et al ( , 2003aMayhew et al ( ,b, 2004a and this author's group (Beech et al 1999(Beech et al , 2000a(Beech et al , 2001aAnsari et al 2001Ansari et al , 2002Ansari et al , 2003Ansari et al , 2004Egbor et al 2005) which measured many tissue organ and placental features in human cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and preeclampsia. For morphometric analyses of placenta and other tissues, the stereological approach is significantly better than planimetry or conventional histopathology, since it supplies total measurements relative to the whole organ and is therefore much more predictive of potential functional changes.…”