The development of synapses in cerebral cortex of the human fetus

Molliver, Mark E.; Kostović, Ivica; Loos, H. Van der

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(73)90741-5

Cited by 355 publications

(226 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

210

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar inputs are probably present in preterm infants, because after the 24th POW numerous synapses are still present in the subplate zone while the initial synaptogenesis occurs in the deep part of the cortical plate. 17 The establishment of thalamocortical connections within the cortical plate seems to occur concurrently in the frontal, 18 auditory, 19 somatosensory, 5 and visual cortices 20 and to coincide with significant functional changes, such as the appearance of evoked and event-related potentials. 29,30 Thus, this developmental stage is characterized by the first appearance of two parallel and concurrent functional circuits in the developing neocortex: (1) the functional thalamocortical connection of the periphery with the cortex, which can be consistently activated by external stimulation; and (2) the endogenous and spontaneously active circuitry of the subplate zone.…”

Section: Comparison Of Mri and Histological Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prolonged coexistence of transient and permanent circuitry elements in the developing cerebral cortex of fetuses and preterm infants

Kostović

Judaš

2006

Develop Med Child Neuro

135

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this paper is to evaluate correlative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological parameters of development of cortical afferents during pathfinding and target selection in transient fetal cerebral laminas in human fetuses and preterm infants. The transient fetal subplate zone, situated between the fetal white matter (i.e. intermediate zone) and the cortical plate, is the crucial laminar compartment for development of thalamocortical and corticocortical afferents. The prolonged coexistence of transient (endogenously active) and permanent (sensorydriven) circuitry within the transient fetal zones is a salient feature of the fetal and preterm cortex; this transient circuitry is the substrate of cerebral functions in preterm infants. Another transient aspect of organization of developing fibre pathways is the abundance of extracellular matrix and guidance molecules in periventricular crossroads of projection and corticocortical pathways. Both the subplate zone and periventricular crossroads are visible on MRI in vivo and in vitro. Hypoxic-ischaemic lesions of periventricular crossroads are the substrate for motor, sensory, and cognitive deficits after focal periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Lesions of distal portions of the white matter and the subplate zone are the substrate for diffuse PVL. The neuronal elements in transient fetal zones form a developmental potential for plasticity after perinatal cerebral lesions.Our understanding and interpretation of structural and functional consequences of cerebral lesions in human fetuses and preterm infants largely depends on knowledge of neurogenetic cellular events that can be demonstrated by in vivo neuroimaging. A necessary step in this approach is the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological organization during different phases of histogenesis. Namely, in the fetal cerebrum, early neurogenetic cellular events (i.e. proliferation, migration, aggregation, cell death, growth of axons, and the establishment of neuronal connections) proceed according to the specific timetable within transient, histologically recognizable fetal zones which do not have an equivalent in the adult brain. 1 During the last third of gestation, neuronal proliferation and migration are mostly completed 1 whereas the development of axonal pathways 2,3 and the differentiation of cortical neurons 4 become the most prominent neurogenetic events. Synaptogenesis continues as the dominant neurogenetic event during postnatal life. In addition to precise timing, these neurogenetic events also display a characteristic spatial occurrence: neuronal proliferation occurs in the ventricular and subventricular zones, whereas neuronal migration and growth of axons occur predominantly in the intermediate zone (the fetal white matter) and the subplate zone, which is situated between the intermediate zone and the cortical plate. 1 Neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis begin in the transient subplate zone 5 and continue in the cortical plate. 1,5 Recent research in...

show abstract

Section: Comparison Of Mri and Histological Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prolonged coexistence of transient and permanent circuitry elements in the developing cerebral cortex of fetuses and preterm infants

Kostović

Judaš

2006

Develop Med Child Neuro

135

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…9 These synapses display structural features of functionally active synapses. However, they are present in very small number.…”

Section: The Involvement Of Cortical Connections In Fetal and Pretermmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 All that evidence clearly suggests that cerebral cortex and associated subcortical structures, such as striatum and thalamus, are quite immature and not yet involved in the earliest patterns of fetal behavior.…”

Section: The Involvement Of Cortical Connections In Fetal and Pretermmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a new connectivity framework for possible functional involvement of the cerebral cortex develops during the midfetal period (15-20 WPC) due to concurrent increase in number of synapses 9,14 and thalamocortical afferents 14,[40][41][42] in the subplate zone 19,21,23 as well as the parallel development of efferent cortical pathways. 43 During the midfetal period, thalamocortical afferents which convey somatosensory information are still waiting within the subplate zone and did not reach their synaptic targets in the cortical plate.…”

Section: The Involvement Of Cortical Connections In Fetal and Pretermmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…at the end of embryonic period and the beginning of the fetal life. It contains very few synapses 9 and it is very likely that some early born neurons 10 communicate through nonsynaptic intercellular junctions. 7,11 The early network displays a characteristic oscillatory activity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Maturation of Cerebral Connections and Fetal Behavior

Kostović¹,

Judaš²

2008

Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Modern imaging methods enabled systematic studies of fetal behaviour as well as a continuation of that behaviour in prematurely born infants (for a review, see 1-4). The following question represents a great challenge for human developmental neurobiologist: what is the neurobiological basis of various behavioural patterns observed in human fetuses and preterm infants?2 First of all, it is essential to determine whether there is an early spontaneous (nonsensory-driven) activity and to what extent the cerebrum and the cerebral cortex may be involved. In addition, it is necessary to describe for each successive phase, the developmental status of neuronal circuitry and synaptic organization.In this review, we present evidence on the development of cortical connections during different phases of fetal development and evaluate a possible functional significance of cerebral involvement.

show abstract

Disturbances of Late Neuronal Migrations in the Perinatal Period

Sarnat¹

1987

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The development of synapses in cerebral cortex of the human fetus

Cited by 355 publications

References 5 publications

Prolonged coexistence of transient and permanent circuitry elements in the developing cerebral cortex of fetuses and preterm infants

Prolonged coexistence of transient and permanent circuitry elements in the developing cerebral cortex of fetuses and preterm infants

Maturation of Cerebral Connections and Fetal Behavior

Disturbances of Late Neuronal Migrations in the Perinatal Period

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About