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Toprak E, Sayal HB. Ultrasonographic imaging of the fetal hippocampus. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:1943-1949. [PMID: 37294452 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective was to identify the fetal hippocampus and fornix using 2D and to measure the C-shaped length of fornix and hippocampus. METHODS This study was designed in cross-section. Healthy singleton and between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation pregnant women who applied to the perinatology outpatient clinic for second-level ultrasound scanning between December 2022 and February 2023 were included in the study. Patients were screened consecutively. Demographic information of the participants was obtained and an ultrasound scan was performed. The fetal fornix-hippocampus' length and hippocampal height were measured in the sagittal section. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, median (min, max), or number (percent). RESULTS A total of 92 patients were included in the study. Fetal fornix and hippocampus measurements were taken in % 97.8 (90/92) patients. The mean of the fetal fornix-hippocampus length and fetal hippocampus height of 90 patients were measured as 35.6 ± 3.0 and 4.7 ± 3.9, respectively. CONCLUSION Fetal fornix and hippocampus can be visualized in easily with two-dimensional ultrasound during anomaly scanning in the second trimester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erzat Toprak
- Clinic of Perinatology, Private Medova Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
| | - Hasan Berkan Sayal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
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2
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Calixto C, Soldatelli MD, Jaimes C, Warfield SK, Gholipour A, Karimi D. A detailed spatio-temporal atlas of the white matter tracts for the fetal brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.590815. [PMID: 38712296 PMCID: PMC11071632 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.590815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
This study presents the construction of a comprehensive spatiotemporal atlas detailing the development of white matter tracts in the fetal brain using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Our research leverages data collected from fetal MRI scans conducted between 22 and 37 weeks of gestation, capturing the dynamic changes in the brain's microstructure during this critical period. The atlas includes 60 distinct white matter tracts, including commissural, projection, and association fibers. We employed advanced fetal dMRI processing techniques and tractography to map and characterize the developmental trajectories of these tracts. Our findings reveal that the development of these tracts is characterized by complex patterns of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), reflecting key neurodevelopmental processes such as axonal growth, involution of the radial-glial scaffolding, and synaptic pruning. This atlas can serve as a useful resource for neuroscience research and clinical practice, improving our understanding of the fetal brain and potentially aiding in the early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders. By detailing the normal progression of white matter tract development, the atlas can be used as a benchmark for identifying deviations that may indicate neurological anomalies or predispositions to disorders.
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3
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Thompson DK, Kelly CE, Dhollander T, Muggli E, Hearps S, Lewis S, Nguyen TNN, Spittle A, Elliott EJ, Penington A, Halliday J, Anderson PJ. Associations between low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and brain development in childhood. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103595. [PMID: 38555806 PMCID: PMC10998198 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on brain development have been infrequently studied. AIM To compare cortical and white matter structure between children aged 6 to 8 years with low-moderate PAE in trimester 1 only, low-moderate PAE throughout gestation, or no PAE. METHODS Women reported quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging was undertaken for 143 children aged 6 to 8 years with PAE during trimester 1 only (n = 44), PAE throughout gestation (n = 58), and no PAE (n = 41). T1-weighted images were processed using FreeSurfer, obtaining brain volume, area, and thickness of 34 cortical regions per hemisphere. Fibre density (FD), fibre cross-section (FC) and fibre density and cross-section (FDC) metrics were computed for diffusion images. Brain measures were compared between PAE groups adjusted for age and sex, then additionally for intracranial volume. RESULTS After adjustments, the right caudal anterior cingulate cortex volume (pFDR = 0.045) and area (pFDR = 0.008), and right cingulum tract cross-sectional area (pFWE < 0.05) were smaller in children exposed to alcohol throughout gestation compared with no PAE. CONCLUSION This study reports a relationship between low-moderate PAE throughout gestation and cingulate cortex and cingulum tract alterations, suggesting a teratogenic vulnerability. Further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanne K Thompson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire E Kelly
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Evelyne Muggli
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen Hearps
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sharon Lewis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Alicia Spittle
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- The University of Sydney, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Kids Research, Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony Penington
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Halliday
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter J Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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Magondo N, Meintjes EM, Warton FL, Little F, van der Kouwe AJ, Laughton B, Jankiewicz M, Holmes MJ. Distinct alterations in white matter properties and organization related to maternal treatment initiation in neonates exposed to HIV but uninfected. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.575169. [PMID: 38260347 PMCID: PMC10802593 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
HIV exposed-uninfected (HEU) infants and children are at risk of developmental delays as compared to uninfected unexposed (HUU) populations. The effects of exposure to in utero HIV and ART regimens on the HEU the developing brain are not well understood. In a cohort of 2-week-old newborns, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography and graph theory to examine the influence of HIV and ART exposure in utero on neonate white matter integrity and organisation. The cohort included HEU infants born to mothers who started ART before conception (HEUpre) and after conception (HEUpost), as well as HUU infants from the same community. We investigated HIV exposure and ART duration group differences in DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD)) and graph measures across white matter. We found increased MD in white matter connections involving the thalamus and limbic system in the HEUpre group compared to HUU. We further identified reduced nodal efficiency in the basal ganglia. Within the HEUpost group, we observed reduced FA in cortical-subcortical and cerebellar connections as well as decreased transitivity in the hindbrain area compared to HUU. Overall, our analysis demonstrated distinct alterations in white matter integrity related to the timing of maternal ART initiation that influence regional brain network properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ndivhuwo Magondo
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M. Meintjes
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Universities Body Imaging Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Fleur L. Warton
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Francesca Little
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andre J.W. van der Kouwe
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA,USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MI, USA
| | - Barbara Laughton
- Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch,South Africa
| | - Marcin Jankiewicz
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Universities Body Imaging Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- ImageTech, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, Canada
| | - Martha J. Holmes
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- ImageTech, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, Canada
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5
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Evanski JM, Zundel CG, Baglot SL, Desai S, Gowatch LC, Ely SL, Sadik N, Lundahl LH, Hill MN, Marusak HA. The First "Hit" to the Endocannabinoid System? Associations Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Frontolimbic White Matter Pathways in Children. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:11-18. [PMID: 38021250 PMCID: PMC10654001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cannabis is the most used federally illicit substance among pregnant people in the United States. However, emerging preclinical data show that a significant portion of cannabis constituents, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its bioactive metabolites, readily cross the placenta and accumulate in the fetal brain, disrupting neurodevelopment. Recent research using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study cohort has linked prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) to greater neurobehavioral problems and lower total gray and white matter volume in children. Here, we examined the impact of PCE on frontolimbic white matter pathways that are critical for cognitive- and emotion-related functioning, show a high density of cannabinoid receptors, and are susceptible to cannabis exposure during other periods of rapid neurodevelopment (e.g., adolescence). Methods This study included 11,530 children (mean ± SD age = 118.99 ± 7.49 months; 47% female) from the ABCD Study cohort. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of caregiver-reported PCE on fractional anisotropy of 10 frontolimbic pathways (5 per hemisphere). Results PCE was associated with lower fractional anisotropy of the right (β = -0.005, p < .001) and left (β = -0.003, p = .007) fornix, and these results remained significant after adjusting for a variety of covariates, multiple comparisons, fractional anisotropy of all fibers, and using a quality-control cohort only. Conclusions In sum, we demonstrated small, yet reliable, effects of PCE on white matter integrity during childhood, particularly in the fornix, which plays a crucial role in emotion- and memory-related processes. Future studies are needed to understand the impacts of small changes in brain structure or function on neurodevelopment and risk of neurobehavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Evanski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Clara G. Zundel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Samantha L. Baglot
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shreya Desai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Leah C. Gowatch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Samantha L. Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Nareen Sadik
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Leslie H. Lundahl
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Matthew N. Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hilary A. Marusak
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
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6
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Na X, Glasier CM, Andres A, Ou X. Maternal Diet Quality during Pregnancy Is Associated with Neonatal Brain White Matter Development. Nutrients 2023; 15:5114. [PMID: 38140373 PMCID: PMC10745593 DOI: 10.3390/nu15245114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal diet and nutrient intake are important for fetal growth and development. In this study, we aim to evaluate whether there are associations between maternal diet quality and the offspring's brain white matter development. Healthy pregnant women's (N = 44) nutrition intake was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) during the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Correlations between MRI diffusion tensor imaging measured fractional anisotropy (FA) of the neonatal brain and the HEI-2015 scores were evaluated using voxel-wise analysis with appropriate multiple comparisons correction and post hoc analysis based on regions of interest. Significant correlations were found between sodium scores at the first trimester of pregnancy and mean neonatal FA values in parietal white matter (R = 0.39, p = 0.01), anterior corona radiata (R = 0.43, p = 0.006), posterior limb of internal capsule (R = 0.53, p < 0.001), external capsule (R = 0.44, p = 0.004), and temporal white matter (R = 0.50, p = 0.001) of the left hemisphere. No other correlations were identified. In conclusion, the relationships between the maternal sodium intake score and the neonatal white matter microstructural development indicate sodium intake patterns better aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans during early pregnancy are associated with greater white matter development in the offspring's brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Na
- Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Charles M. Glasier
- Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Aline Andres
- Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Xiawei Ou
- Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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7
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De Benedictis A, Rossi-Espagnet MC, de Palma L, Sarubbo S, Marras CE. Structural networking of the developing brain: from maturation to neurosurgical implications. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1242757. [PMID: 38099209 PMCID: PMC10719860 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1242757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern neuroscience agrees that neurological processing emerges from the multimodal interaction among multiple cortical and subcortical neuronal hubs, connected at short and long distance by white matter, to form a largely integrated and dynamic network, called the brain "connectome." The final architecture of these circuits results from a complex, continuous, and highly protracted development process of several axonal pathways that constitute the anatomical substrate of neuronal interactions. Awareness of the network organization of the central nervous system is crucial not only to understand the basis of children's neurological development, but also it may be of special interest to improve the quality of neurosurgical treatments of many pediatric diseases. Although there are a flourishing number of neuroimaging studies of the connectome, a comprehensive vision linking this research to neurosurgical practice is still lacking in the current pediatric literature. The goal of this review is to contribute to bridging this gap. In the first part, we summarize the main current knowledge concerning brain network maturation and its involvement in different aspects of normal neurocognitive development as well as in the pathophysiology of specific diseases. The final section is devoted to identifying possible implications of this knowledge in the neurosurgical field, especially in epilepsy and tumor surgery, and to discuss promising perspectives for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luca de Palma
- Clinical and Experimental Neurology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvio Sarubbo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS), Trento, Italy
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8
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Di Carlo DT, Filice ME, Fava A, Quilici F, Fuochi B, Cecchi P, Donatelli G, Restani L, Nardini V, Turillazzi E, Cosottini M, Perrini P. Development of associational fiber tracts in fetal human brain: a cadaveric laboratory investigation. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:2007-2015. [PMID: 37658857 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The advent of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in addition to cadaveric brain dissection allowed a comprehensive description of an adult human brain. Nonetheless, the knowledge of the development of the internal architecture of the brain is mostly incomplete. Our study aimed to provide a description of the anatomical variations of the major associational bundles, among fetal and early post-natal periods. Seventeen formalin-fixed fetal human brains were enrolled for sulci analysis, and 13 specimens were dissected under the operating microscope, using Klingler's technique. Although fronto-temporal connections could be observed in all stages of development, a distinction between the uncinate fascicle, and the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle was clear starting from the early preterm period (25-35 post-conceptional week). Similarly, we were consistently able to isolate the periatrial white matter that forms the sagittal stratum (SS), with no clear distinction among SS layers. Arcuate fascicle and superior longitudinal fascicle were isolated only at the late stage of development without a reliable description of their entire course. The results of our study demonstrated that, although white matter is mostly unmyelinated among fetal human brains, cadaveric dissection can be performed with consistent results. Furthermore, the stepwise development of the associational fiber tracts strengthens the hypothesis that anatomy and function run in parallel, and higher is the cognitive functions subserved by an anatomical structure, later the development of the fascicle. Further histological-anatomical-DWI investigations are required to appraise and explore this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Tiziano Di Carlo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Via Paradisa 2, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Maria Elena Filice
- Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Arianna Fava
- Department of Neurosurgery, IRCSS Neuromed, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Quilici
- Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Fuochi
- Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Cecchi
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Laura Restani
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nardini
- Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Mirco Cosottini
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Perrini
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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9
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Horibe K, Taga G, Fujimoto K. Geodesic theory of long association fibers arrangement in the human fetal cortex. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9778-9786. [PMID: 37482884 PMCID: PMC10472492 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Association fibers connect different areas of the cerebral cortex over long distances and integrate information to achieve higher brain functions, particularly in humans. Prototyped association fibers are developed to the respective tangential direction throughout the cerebral hemispheres along the deepest border of the subplate during the fetal period. However, how guidance to remote areas is achieved is not known. Because the subplate is located below the cortical surface, the tangential direction of the fibers may be biased by the curved surface geometry due to Sylvian fissure and cortical poles. The fiber length can be minimized if the tracts follow the shortest paths (geodesics) of the curved surface. Here, we propose and examine a theory that geodesics guide the tangential direction of long association fibers by analyzing how geodesics are spatially distributed on the fetal human brains. We found that the geodesics were dense on the saddle-shaped surface of the perisylvian region and sparse on the dome-shaped cortical poles. The geodesics corresponded with the arrangement of five typical association fibers, supporting the theory. Thus, the geodesic theory provides directional guidance information for wiring remote areas and suggests that long association fibers emerge from minimizing their tangential length in fetal brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Horibe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, 560-0043 Osaka, Japan
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, 560-8531 Osaka, Japan
| | - Gentaro Taga
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Fujimoto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, 560-0043 Osaka, Japan
- Program of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526 Hiroshima, Japan
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10
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Horgos B, Mecea M, Boer A, Buruiana A, Ciortea R, Mihu CM, Florian IS, Florian AI, Stamatian F, Szabo B, Albu C, Susman S, Pascalau R. White matter changes in fetal brains with ventriculomegaly. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1160742. [PMID: 37389403 PMCID: PMC10303118 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1160742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ventriculomegaly (VM) is a fetal brain malformation which may present independently (isolated form) or in association with different cerebral malformations, genetic syndromes or other pathologies (non-isolated form). Methods This paper aims to study the effect of ventriculomegaly on the internal tridimensional architecture of fetal brains by way of Klingler's dissection. Ventriculomegaly was diagnosed using fetal ultrasonography during pregnancy and subsequently confirmed by necropsy. Taking into consideration the diameter of the lateral ventricle (measured at the level of the atrium), the brains were divided into two groups: moderate ventriculomegaly (with atrial diameter between 13 and 15 mm) and severe ventriculomegaly (with atrial diameter above 15 mm). Results and discussion The results of each dissection were described and illustrated, then compared with age-matched reference brains. In the pathological brains, fascicles in direct contact with the enlarged ventricles were found to be thinner and displaced inferiorly, the opening of the uncinate fasciculus was wider, the fornix was no longer in contact with the corpus callosum and the convexity of the corpus callosum was inverted. We have studied the prevalence of neurodevelopmental delay in children born with ventriculomegaly in the literature and discovered that a normal developmental outcome was found in over 90% of the mild VM cases, approximately 75% of the moderate and 60% in severe VM, with the correlated neurological impairments ranging from attention deficits to psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Horgos
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Miruna Mecea
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Armand Boer
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Buruiana
- Department of Oncology, “Ion Chiricuţă” Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Razvan Ciortea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Carmen-Mihaela Mihu
- Department of Morphological Sciences—Histology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioan Stefan Florian
- Department of Neuroscience—Neurosurgery, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandru Ioan Florian
- Department of Neuroscience—Neurosurgery, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Florin Stamatian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IMOGEN Centre of Advanced Research Studies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Bianca Szabo
- Department of Morphological Sciences—Anatomy and Embryology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Camelia Albu
- Department of Morphological Sciences—Pathology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Pathology, IMOGEN Centre of Advanced Research Studies, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sergiu Susman
- Department of Morphological Sciences—Histology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Pathology, IMOGEN Centre of Advanced Research Studies, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Raluca Pascalau
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Research and Development Institute, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
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11
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Using ex vivo arterial injection and dissection to assess white matter vascularization. Sci Rep 2023; 13:809. [PMID: 36646713 PMCID: PMC9842749 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26227-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in the techniques for assessing human cerebral white matter have recently contributed to greater attention to structural connectivity. Yet, little is known about the vascularization of most white matter fasciculi and the fascicular composition of the vascular territories. This paper presents an original method to label the arterial supply of macroscopic white matter fasciculi based on a standardized protocol for post-mortem injection of colored material into main cerebral arteries combined with a novel fiber dissection technique. Twelve whole human cerebral hemispheres obtained post-mortem were included. A detailed description of every step, from obtaining the specimen to image acquisition of its dissection, is provided. Injection and dissection were reproducible and manageable without any sophisticated equipment. They successfully showed the arterial supply of the dissected fasciculi. In addition, we discuss the challenges we faced and overcame during the development of the presented method, highlight its originality. Henceforth, this innovative method serves as a tool to provide a precise anatomical description of the vascularization of the main white matter tracts.
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12
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Liang W, Yu Q, Wang W, Dhollander T, Suluba E, Li Z, Xu F, Hu Y, Tang Y, Liu S. A comparative study of the superior longitudinal fasciculus subdivisions between neonates and young adults. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2713-2730. [PMID: 36114859 PMCID: PMC9618541 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02565-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) is a complex associative tract comprising three distinct subdivisions in the frontoparietal cortex, each of which has its own anatomical connectivity and functional roles. However, many studies on white matter development, hampered by limitations of data quality and tractography methods, treated the SLF as a single entity. The exact anatomical trajectory and developmental status of each sub-bundle of the human SLF in neonates remain poorly understood. Here, we compared the morphological and microstructural characteristics of each branch of the SLF at two ages using diffusion MRI data from 40 healthy neonates and 40 adults. A multi-shell multi-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution (MSMT-CSD) algorithm was used to ensure the successful separation of the three SLF branches (SLF I, SLF II and SLF III). Then, between-group differences in the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics were investigated in all the SLF branches. Meanwhile, Mahalanobis distances based on all the diffusion metrics were computed to quantify the maturation of neonatal SLF branches, considering the adult brain as the reference. The SLF branches, excluding SLF II, had similar fibre morphology and connectivity between the neonatal and adult groups. The Mahalanobis distance values further supported the notion of heterogeneous maturation among SLF branches. The greatest Mahalanobis distance was observed in SLF II, possibly indicating that it was the least mature. Our findings provide a new anatomical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by abnormal neonatal SLF development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Liang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Qiaowen Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emmanuel Suluba
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Zhuoran Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Feifei Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Yuchun Tang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
| | - Shuwei Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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13
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Yendiki A, Aggarwal M, Axer M, Howard AF, van Cappellen van Walsum AM, Haber SN. Post mortem mapping of connectional anatomy for the validation of diffusion MRI. Neuroimage 2022; 256:119146. [PMID: 35346838 PMCID: PMC9832921 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a unique tool for the study of brain circuitry, as it allows us to image both the macroscopic trajectories and the microstructural properties of axon bundles in vivo. The Human Connectome Project ushered in an era of impressive advances in dMRI acquisition and analysis. As a result of these efforts, the quality of dMRI data that could be acquired in vivo improved substantially, and large collections of such data became widely available. Despite this progress, the main limitation of dMRI remains: it does not image axons directly, but only provides indirect measurements based on the diffusion of water molecules. Thus, it must be validated by methods that allow direct visualization of axons but that can only be performed in post mortem brain tissue. In this review, we discuss methods for validating the various features of connectional anatomy that are extracted from dMRI, both at the macro-scale (trajectories of axon bundles), and at micro-scale (axonal orientations and other microstructural properties). We present a range of validation tools, including anatomic tracer studies, Klingler's dissection, myelin stains, label-free optical imaging techniques, and others. We provide an overview of the basic principles of each technique, its limitations, and what it has taught us so far about the accuracy of different dMRI acquisition and analysis approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Yendiki
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States,Corresponding author (A. Yendiki)
| | - Manisha Aggarwal
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Markus Axer
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich, Germany,Department of Physics, University of Wuppertal Germany
| | - Amy F.D. Howard
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anne-Marie van Cappellen van Walsum
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherland,Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Institute for Brain, Nijmegen, the Netherland
| | - Suzanne N. Haber
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
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14
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González-López P, Cossu G, Thomas CM, Marston JS, Gómez C, Pralong E, Messerer M, Daniel RT. Cadaveric White Matter Dissection Study of the Telencephalic Flexure: Surgical Implications. Front Neurol 2022; 13:757757. [PMID: 35242095 PMCID: PMC8886146 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.757757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurosurgery has traditionally been overtly focused on the study of anatomy and functions of cortical areas with microsurgical techniques aimed at preserving eloquent cortices. In the last two decades, there has been ever-increasing data emerging from advances in neuroimaging (principally diffusion tensor imaging) and clinical studies (principally from awake surgeries) that point to the important contribution of white matter tracts (WMT) that influence neurological function as part of a brain network. Major scientific consortiums worldwide, currently working on this human brain connectome, are providing evidence that is dramatically altering the manner in which we view neurosurgical procedures. The development of the telencephalic flexure, a major landmark during the human embryogenesis of the central nervous system (CNS), severely affects the cortical/subcortical anatomy in and around the sylvian fissure and thus the different interacting brain networks. Indeed, the telencephalic flexure modifies the anatomy of the human brain with the more posterior areas becoming ventral and lateral and associative fibers connecting the anterior areas with the previous posterior ones follow the flexure, thus becoming semicircular. In these areas, the projection, association, and commissural fibers intermingle with some WMT remaining curved and others longitudinal. Essentially the ultimate shape and location of these tracts are determined by the development of the telencephalic flexure. Five adult human brains were dissected (medial to lateral and lateral to medial) with a view to describing this intricate anatomy. To better understand the 3D orientation of the WMT of the region we have correlated the cadaveric data with the anatomy presented in the literature of the flexure during human neuro-embryogenesis in addition to cross-species comparisons of the flexure. The precise definition of the connectome of the telencephalic flexure is primordial during glioma surgery and for disconnective epilepsy surgery in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Cossu
- University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Cristina Gómez
- Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Etienne Pralong
- University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mahmoud Messerer
- University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roy T Daniel
- University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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15
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Ku RY, Torii M. New Molecular Players in the Development of Callosal Projections. Cells 2020; 10:cells10010029. [PMID: 33375263 PMCID: PMC7824101 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical development in humans is a long and ongoing process that continuously modifies the neural circuitry into adolescence. This is well represented by the dynamic maturation of the corpus callosum, the largest white matter tract in the brain. Callosal projection neurons whose long-range axons form the main component of the corpus callosum are evolved relatively recently with a substantial, disproportionate increase in numbers in humans. Though the anatomy of the corpus callosum and cellular processes in its development have been intensively studied by experts in a variety of fields over several decades, the whole picture of its development, in particular, the molecular controls over the development of callosal projections, still has many missing pieces. This review highlights the most recent progress on the understanding of corpus callosum formation with a special emphasis on the novel molecular players in the development of axonal projections in the corpus callosum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray Yueh Ku
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s Research Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Masaaki Torii
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s Research Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Correspondence:
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