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[An adult patient of Reye's syndrome--the possible background mechanism of lesions in claustrum, striatum and limbic system and limbic dementia].

We reported a 35-year-old male patient with Reye's syndrome, who showed temporarily lesions of claustrum, striatum, hippocampus and amygdala on CT, MRI and PET scan. He was previously healthy and affected upper respiratory infection. After taking 4 tablets of aspirin (335 mg x 4), he developed severe headache and status epileptics. The cerebrospinal fluid showed normal cell count and protein. The serum GOT and GPT elevated to 499 IU/l and 221 IU/l respectively. The parainfluenza virus type I titer was 32 times on admission and increased up to 128 times two weeks later. In spite of the anticonvulsant, status epileptics lasted for about one month and he needed mechanical ventilation. On 13-18 days of illness, abnormal lesions appeared in bilateral claustrum and striatum on CT and MRI. On 49 days of illness, abnormal lesions appeared in bilateral hippocampus and amygdala. All these lesions changed into normal on MRI on 111 days of illness. The 18F-FDG PET study on 80 days of illness revealed high uptake on striatum, hippocampus and amygdala bilaterally and changed into normal on 130 days of illness. He has improved markedly but showed long-standing abnormal signs of limbic dementia. We suggested this patient could be suffered from post infectious encephalitis in limbic system after Reye's syndrome.

Adult↗

New component of the limbic system: Marginal division of the neostriatum that links the limbic system to the basal nucleus of Meynert.

The limbic system refers to a group of connected neural regions that are associated with motivation, learning, and memory. The marginal division (MrD) is a zone located at the caudal border of the neostriatum in mammalian brains that has been shown to be involved in learning and memory. In a previous study, c-fos expression showed functional connections between the MrD, basal nucleus of Meynert (NBM) and limbic system (Shu et al., 1988a, 1999). In the present study, to explore the relationship between these regions, the expression of limbic system-associated membrane protein (LAMP) was investigated using molecular and immunohistochemical methods. Synaptic and functional connections between the MrD and the NBM were studied also using tract tracing, electron microscopic and behavioral methods. LAMP is thought to be a marker of the limbic system and expression of LAMP protein and mRNA was observed in both the MrD and the limbic system. From such results, it is concluded that the MrD is a new component of the limbic system. Fibers from the MrD were observed projecting and synapsing on cholinergic neurons of the NBM. As reduction of learning and memory was induced by lesioning the projection from the MrD to the NBM, it would seem that the MrD modulates the learning and memory function of the NBM. In conclusion, the results of these studies suggest that the MrD is a new component of the limbic system, and there are functional and structural connections between the MrD, NBM and limbic system. The MrD seems to act as a link between the limbic system and the NBM, and plays a role in learning and memory.

Animals↗

Serotonergic modulation of the limbic system.

The limbic system is composed of cortical as well as subcortical structures, which are intimately interconnected. The resulting macrostructure is responsible for the generation and expression of motivational and affective states. Especially high levels of serotonin are found in limbic forebrain structures. Serotonin projections to these structures, which arise from serotonergic cell body groups in the midbrain, form a dense plexus of axonal processes. In many areas of the limbic system, serotonergic neurotransmission can best be described as paracrine or volume transmission, and thus serotonin is believed to play a neuromodulatory role in the brain. Serotonergic projections to limbic structures, arising primarily from the dorsal and median raphe nuclei, compose two distinct serotonergic systems differing in their topographic organization, electrophysiological characteristics, morphology, as well as sensitivity to neurotoxins and perhaps psychoactive or therapeutic agents. These differences may be extremely important in understanding the role of these two serotonergic systems in normal brain function and in mental illness. Central serotonergic neurons or receptors are targets for a variety of therapeutic agents used in the treatment of disorders of the limbic system.

Animals↗

MR imaging of diseases of the limbic system.

The limbic system refers to the part of the brain that is involved in emotional expression and in cognitive and somatomotor control systems; it most likely also has a significant role in the pathogenesis of certain dementias, neuropsychiatric disturbances, and seizure disorders. This system, as originally defined, has no clear anatomic boundaries. Limbic regions of the telencephalon include a continuous medial zone of cortical regions, including the hippocampal formation; a perihippocampal zone, including the cingulate gyrus, prefrontal region, and perirhinal region; along with subcortical areas, including the septum pellucidum and the amygdala. A distinguishing characteristic of the limbic region is that it is highly interconnected and appears to form the only major route for information transfer between the neocortex and the hypothalamus. With the multiplanar capability and resolution of MR imaging, the individual parts of the limbic system and the diseases that affect them can be studied. In this review, we discuss MR imaging of the diseases that affect this system.

Brain Diseases↗

Useless or helpful? The "limbic system" concept.

The "limbic system" is a widespread and frequently used concept in the neurosciences although it is characterized by many different and often vague or even contradictory definitions. This concept has therefore received an increasing amount of critique during the past years. An appraisal of various opinions - ranging from rejection to limited use and support - led us to suggestions concerning its appropriate use. Most importantly, the diversity of definitions and the weak empirical foundation require careful consideration as to what extent certain aspects of the "limbic system" concept can be useful heuristic tools in scientific reasoning.

Animals↗

How does the limbic system assist motor learning? A limbic comparator hypothesis.

This paper offers a new hypothesis about how the limbic system might assist motor learning. It is proposed that interactions of limbic and sensorimotor-related systems are essential for learning what to do in a motor task (appropriate, relevant behavior) and how to do it best (motor skill). Limbic modulations of sensorimotor-related neural centers are envisaged to result from comparisons in various neural centers of converging inputs from the relevance-sensitive amygdala and from corollary, cortically-modulated recipients of amygdaloid information. Such comparisons of relatively 'raw' limbic inputs and their 'processed', corollary forms could be achieved in a side-loop manner resembling that in the cerebellum. This 'limbic comparator' hypothesis was prompted by studies of motor learning that show how monkeys develop skill only after gaining insight into appropriate, task-related behavior, and that inappropriate behavior during transition into the insightful state produces 'error' signals from the anterior cingulate cortex. Known sites of limbic projections that could serve corollary comparisons are examined with regard to their possible influence on motivation, appropriate, task-related behavior and motor skill. Anatomical and functional tests of convergence and comparison in sensorimotor-related neural centers are suggested in order to stimulate investigations of the limbic comparator hypothesis.

Animals↗

Subtypes of limbic system dysfunction evoking homicide in limbic (?) Psychotic trigger reaction and temporal lobe epilepsy--evolutionary constraints.

Within an evolutionary context two subtypes of limbic system dysfunctioning are compared: (1) the previously proposed limbic psychotic trigger reaction, in which nondrive motivated homicide is triggered by a specific individualized external stimulus, which evokes a brief-lasting active reliving of past (moderately) stressful, frequently repeated ("kindled"?) situations. The brief-lasting out-of-character homicidal episode with flat affect is typically associated with first-time formed or unformed hallucinations of various modalities and with overactivation of the autonomic nervous system. There is no (noticeable) loss of consciousness, enabling the patient's full recall (at times with suicidal attempts) (Pontius, 1981, 1984, 1987). (2) A rare case of homicide during a fugue state with echopraxia in temporal lobe epilepsy is discussed.

Biological Evolution↗

Measurement of dynorphins with 3H-etorphine and canine limbic system receptors.

A canine limbic system preparation was used as the source of opioid peptide receptors to screen biologic extracts for the presence of opioid receptoractive peptides following their gradient RP-HPLC separation. Eight synthetic dynorphin peptides were studied for their ability to displace the commonly-used ligand 3H-etorphine from the canine limbic system P2 preparation. The peptides studied included the dynorphins 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-12, 1-13, 1-17, and dynorphin B. Two different types of opioid peptide molecules were utilized for the determination of the level of non-specific binding. In one study, methionine enkephalin, and in the second study each one of the eight corresponding dynorphins, was used for determination of non-specific binding. The experimental data indicated that 3H-etorphine bound to the canine limbic system P2 receptors, and that those dynorphins displaced effectively the 3H-etorphine from those receptors.

Animals↗

Ontogenesis of the alpha2-adrenergic receptor system in the hypothalamo-limbic system of the Pekin duck.

The development of the central nervous alpha2-adrenergic system in the duck was studied by semiquantitative autoradiography at the ontogenetic stages embryonic days 20 (E20) and 27 (E27) and postnatal days 3 (P3) and 14 (P14) by using the monoradioiodinated alpha2-agonist clonidine ([125I]CLO) as radioligand. All structures endowed with alpha2-adrenoceptors in the adult animal were specifically labeled with [125I]CLO by E20. A detailed analysis of the binding capacity for [125I]CLO was performed for parts of several functional systems: hypothalamic structures (nucleus inferior hypothalami, nucleus magnocellularis preopticus, nucleus paraventricularis), limbic system (habenula, nucleus septalis lateralis, nucleus striae terminalis), circumventricular organs (organum pineale, organum subfornicale, plexus choroidei ventriculi tertii and ventriculi lateralis), visual system (hyperstriatum accessorium, nucleus reticularis superior, tectum opticum), and associative cortex (hyperstriatum ventrale). Except for the nucleus inferior hypothalami and the plexus choroideus ventriculi lateralis, all structures showed a perinatal (E27-P3) maximum of alpha2-adrenoceptor-binding capacity with a subsequent decline to values of prehatching stages. This uniform expression pattern of alpha2-adrenoceptors indicates that the days around hatching are a critical period for the development of the adrenergic system in the brain of the duck.

Animals↗

Volumetric MRI of the limbic system: anatomic determinants.

The limbic system comprises the hippocampal formation, fornix, mamillary bodies, thalamus, and other integrated structures. It is involved in complex functions including memory and emotion and in diseases such as temporal lobe epilepsy. Volume measurements of the amygdala and hippocampus have been used reliably to study patients with temporal lobe epilepsy but have not extended to other limbic structures. We performed volume measurements of hippocampus, amygdala, fornix and mamillary bodies in healthy individuals. Measurements of the amygdala, hippocampus, fornix and mamillary bodies revealed significant differences in volume between right and left sides (P < 0.001). The intraclass coefficient of variation for measurements was high for all structures except the mamillary bodies. Qualitative image assessment of the same structures revealed no asymmetries between the hemispheres. This technique can be applied to the study of disorders affecting the limbic system.

Adult↗

Diffusion tensor tractography of the limbic system.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The limbic system, relevant to memory and emotion, is an interesting subject of study in healthy and diseased individuals. It consists of a network of gray matter structures interconnected by white matter fibers. Although gray matter components of this system have been studied by using MR imaging, the connecting fibers have not been analyzed to the same degree. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signal intensity contamination of the fornix and cingulum, the 2 major white matter tracts of the limbic system, can alter diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) measurements and affect tractography. We investigated the effect of CSF signal intensity suppression on fiber tracking of the limbic connections and characterized the diffusion properties of these structures in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Nine healthy individuals were scanned with standard and CSF-suppressed DTI. Tractography of the fornix and cingulum was performed for both acquisition methods. We report mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy measurements of the crus, body, and columns of the fornix, and descending, superior, and anterior portions of the cingulum. RESULTS: Diffusion measurements were improved and tractography was facilitated by using CSF-suppressed DTI. In particular, tract volume increased, whereas decreases of the mean diffusivity and increases of diffusion anisotropy more accurately represented the underlying tissue by minimizing deleterious partial volume averaging from CSF. This was particularly true for the fornix because it is in closest contact to CSF. Diffusion measurements throughout the limbic connections were consistent in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of CSF suppression when performing diffusion-tensor tractography of the limbic system.

Adult↗

In vivo quantification of the limbic system using MRI: effects of normal aging.

Limbic system structures are of central interest in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a unique potential for imaging limbic system structures in vivo, but methodological constraints can limit the usefulness and interpretation of the collected image data. In this article, we present approaches for the acquisition and quantification of high resolution MR images of the limbic system. We used a long TR, cardiac gated, flow compensated, spin echo sequence to collect 22, 3-mm thick contiguous sections encompassing the limbic system. The sections were oriented relative to standard internal neuroanatomical landmarks. The sequence provided good gray matter/white matter/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CSF/bone contrast; the latter is necessary for quantifying intracranial size and total CSF volume. Using operationalized criteria, we achieved high interrater reliability in volumetric measurement of temporal horn and hippocampus. This technique was then used to examine the effect of normal aging by comparing eight young (mean = 24 years) and seven old (mean = 73 years) healthy community members. We were able to demonstrate a significant age-related increase in temporal horn volume and a trend toward an age-related decrease in hippocampal volume.

Adult↗

The limbic system: a review of its empirical foundation.

The concept of the limbic system is highly influential in many areas of the neurosciences and in their applications to clinical medicine. The value of this concept has been questioned, denied, and defended several times in the past but a comprehensive critical evaluation has never been published. In this article we take several approaches to analyse empirical data of relevance to the limbic system. First we delineate its factual application in different areas. The limbic system has a very wide scope and divergent use. Secondly we extract criteria for its definition from research literature using the bibliographic database Medline. The limbic system has been defined variously on a number of different descriptive levels from morphology to behaviour. Thirdly we review its empirical foundations comparing evidence from different sources. The limbic system lacks an adequate empirical definition in spite of numerous efforts. Last we evaluate its construction as a scientific concept from empirical facts. The limbic system is a non-empirical explanatory concept for poorly understood brain functions. We conclude that the concept of the limbic system cannot be accepted on empirical grounds. However, it is a very attractive concept in the search for explanation of brain function. The non-empirical contents of the limbic system remains largely unexplored.

Animals↗

Role of the limbic system in dependence on drugs.

The limbic system is a group of structurally and functionally related areas of the brain that provides the anatomical substrate for emotions and motivated behaviour, including the circuitry for the stress response and reward-related events. This system is strongly implicated in drug abuse from the pleasure and/or positive side associated with acute exposure to the dysphoria and craving associated with withdrawal. The contribution of the main cortical and subcortical elements of the limbic system to drug dependence is briefly reviewed in the present work with a focus on the role of the extended amygdala and its connections as well as on the peripheral feedback signals mediated by adrenal glucocorticoids. The elucidation of the neuroadaptive responses of the limbic system to chronic drug exposure will undoubtedly help to design rational strategies for the treatment of addiction.

Animals↗

cDNA cloning and structural analysis of the human limbic-system-associated membrane protein (LAMP).

The limbic-system-associated membrane protein (LAMP) is a 64-68-kDa neuronal surface glycoprotein distributed in cortical and subcortical regions of the limbic system. The human LAMP gene was cloned by RT-PCR using human cerebral cortex mRNA and oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) primers derived from the rat lamp cDNA sequence. The human and rat LAMP cDNAs showed 94% identity at the nucleotide (nt) level, and the encoded 338-amino-acid (aa) polypeptides shared 99% sequence identity. All the important features of LAMP were conserved: (i) the deduced aa sequence reflecting a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor, (ii) eight putative N-linked glycosylation sites, and (iii) conserved pairs of Cys forming three internal repeats characteristic of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). Northern blot analysis indicated the presence of two mRNA transcripts in the human brain of a size identical to those identified in adult rat brain. These data indicate that LAMP is a highly conserved new member of the IgSF which, together with the opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule (OBCAM) and neurotrimin, comprises a new subfamily that has been designated as IgLONs. With a unique distribution in limbic structures, LAMP may play an important role in limbic system development and function, as suggested by previous in vitro and in vivo functional studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Neuropathology of the limbic system.

The history and development of the fanciful terminology concerning the structures of the limbic system are discussed. The diseases involving the limbic system are divided into three groups; (1) diseases in which the limbic system is more or less selectively involved, such as limbic encephalitis, herpes simplex encephalitis, cerebral confusions by the falx and tentorium, and internal herniations through the falx and tentorium; (2) diseases in which the limbic system is predominantly involved, such as arhinencephalia, holoprosencephaly, cyst of cavum septi pellucidi, Pick's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hippocampal sclerosis, and vascular diseases of the hippocampal formation; and (3) diseases in which the limbic system is randomly involved, such as various types of neoplasms and vascular and inflammatory lesions. The relationship between destructive lesions of the hippocampus and memory also is emphasized.

Alzheimer Disease↗