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N Ulfig

Publications and source records attributed to N Ulfig.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Configuration of the magnocellular nuclei in the basal forebrain of the human adult.

With the use of gapless series of thick sections (800 microns) stained for lipofuscin pigment as a stable intraneuronal characteristic, it was found in the human brain that the three magnocellular nuclei in the basal forebrain-the medial septal nucleus, the nucleus of the diagonal band (vertical and horizontal limb) and the basal nucleus of Meynert located within the substantia innominata-were tightly connected with each other. A band-like anteromedial subnucleus and a semilunar posterolateral subnucleus could be delineated in the basal nucleus and were found to be embedded in a zone of low cell density, the substantia innominata, which medially blends into the horizontal limb of the diagonal band nucleus. A three-dimensional reconstruction was made to demonstrate the complex shape of the magnocellular basal forebrain nuclei.

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Neuronal types and their percent distribution within the magnocellular nuclei of the human basal forebrain.

Three neuronal types constituting the magnocellular nuclei of the human basal forebrain have been differentiated with the aid of preparations stained for both Nissl material and pigment deposits: type I = large multipolar neurons contain loosely packed and faintly stained lipofuscin granules occupying a large portion of the cell body; type II = large spindle-shaped neurons reveal a densely packed accumulation of coarse and intensely stained lipofuscin granules, and type III = small nerve cells, scattered among these large neuronal components, with only a small number of faintly stained lipofuscin granules. The determination of the projection areas of the somata of the three neuronal types has led to a distribution pattern with three peaks. The ratio of the nerve cell types has been evaluated: 73.6% type I; 8.6% type II, and 17.8% type III neurons.

Basal Ganglia↗

Changes within the basal nucleus in Parkinson's disease.

The magnocellular nuclei in the basal forebrain--the medial septal nucleus, the nucleus of the diagonal band, and the basal nucleus within the substantia innominata--are tightly connected with each other. Large multipolar neurons clearly predominating in number can be differentiated from a spindle-shaped and a small globular type of neuron on account of their typical pattern of lipofuscin pigmentation. As an additional feature some of the multipolar neurons exhibit intracytoplasmic acidophilic granules. At the ultrastructural level, these granules reveal a homogeneous substructure, and they are occasionally located within mitochondria. The percentage of large multipolar neurons displaying acidophilic granules varies in a topographical manner (medial septal nucleus and vertical limb nucleus of the diagonal band: 10%, horizontal limb nucleus of the diagonal band and anteromedial subnucleus of the basal nucleus: 36%, posterolateral subnucleus of the basal nucleus: 54%). In parkinsonian cases a significant decrease of granule-bearing neurons within the posterolateral subnucleus of the basal nucleus is noted. This decrease might be associated with the appearance of neurons containing Lewy-bodies. It is also conceivable that the granule-bearing neurons show a higher vulnerability and underlie neuronal death. Analyzing the lipofuscin pigmentation within the two subnuclei of the basal nucleus in parkinsonian cases, one notices that the number of large multipolar neurons displaying pigment granules in a dendritic stem is significantly higher than in controls. Moreover, it is apparent that the degree of this pigment penetration is more pronounced in cases of Parkinson's disease. These alterations may be interpreted as a sign of plasticity of this neuronal population.

Basal Ganglia↗

Expression of a kinase anchoring protein 79 and synaptophysin in the developing human red nucleus.

Our previous study showed that in the human fetal and neonatal brain, the magnocellular and parvocellular parts of the red nucleus can be well delineated by calcium-binding proteins. To study the development of rubral afferents, the expression of A kinase anchoring protein 79 (AKAP79) and synaptophysin (SYN) was examined in the human fetal red nucleus. It was found that during prenatal development both AKAP79 and SYN expression increased gradually although a major alteration in the distribution of the proteins within the two compartments of the red nucleus was not observed. In AKAP79 immunopreparations, the magnocellular part became well demarcated from 23 weeks of gestation onwards and both parts showed punctate immunolabelling with moderate to high packing densities of immunoreactive cells. SYN immunoreactivity with a punctate appearance was, however, mainly located in the parvocellular part. It was evenly distributed throughout the compartment at 14-22 weeks of gestation, and then from 23 weeks to the time of birth, there was a pericellular arrangement of SYN. Our observations are mainly in line with connectivity data regarding the red nucleus.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

Distribution of intracytoplasmic acidophilic granules in the magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain in normal individuals and patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Using a technique which stains both acidophilic granules and lipofuscin deposits, the distribution pattern of neurons containing intracytoplasmic acidophilic granules was studied in the magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain in the normal adult. Additionally, a classification of the acidophilic granule-bearing neurons was carried out. Within the medial septal nucleus and the vertical limb nucleus of the diagonal band less than 10% of the multipolar neurons display acidophilic granules. Proceeding posteriorly, the number of granule-containing neurons increased up to 36% in the horizontal limb nucleus of the diagonal band and in the anteromedial subnucleus of the basal nucleus, and up to 56% in the posterolateral subnucleus of the basal nucleus. In parkinsonian cases the frequency of acidophilic granule-bearing neurons was significantly reduced in the posterolateral subnucleus of the basal nucleus. At the ultrastructural level, the acidophilic granules consist of a homogenous material and were occasionally located within mitochondria. Their substructural aspects as well as their intracytoplasmic distribution correspond to those displayed by the granules found in the lower brain stem.

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