Cell proliferation in the striatum during postnatal development: preferential distribution in subregions of the ventral striatum

Abstract

The ventral striatum receives topographic input from the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), areas associated with incentive-based learning. In addition, cortico-striatal projections from the dorsal prefrontal cortex (dorsal PFC) and the motor/premotor areas are also organized topographically. Cortico-ventral basal ganglia circuitry is associated with a variety of mental health disorders including obsessivecompulsive disorder, and drug addiction, disorders that emerge during childhood through young adulthood. Growing evidence indicates that cortical and striatal development continues through this period. Moreover, cell proliferation, which is associated with development and plasticity, also continues in the cortex and striatum through adulthood. Given the implication of cortico-basal ganglia circuitry in diseases emerging during postnatal development, we studied cell proliferation in striatal regions associated with specific frontal cortical areas at different ages. The results show cell proliferation throughout the striatum at all postnatal ages. The majority of the new cells were immunoreactive for the chondroitn sulfate NG2, a marker for glia, but not NeuN, a neuronal marker. Although neurogenesis was not observed, approximately 30% of the new cells were associated with neurons. There was a significantly higher degree of cell proliferation during the first year postnatal compared to other striatal regions. Finally, the ventral striatal areas receiving input from the vmPFC and OFC have significantly more new cells throughout the juvenile years compared to other striatal regions. Taken together, these results indicate that new cells in the ventral striatum may be particularly important for the refinement of the cortico-striatal network, and in the formation of neural ensembles fundamental to learning during behavioral development.

Revisiting Hydrocephalus as a Model to Study Brain Resilience

“…Another possible mechanism would be the local neurogenesis already reported in structures such as the basal ganglia, with preferential distribution in sub-regions of the ventral striatum (Stopczynski et al, 2008). …”

The primate pedunculopontine nucleus region: towards a dual role in locomotion and waking state

“…VAC vertical AC, VPC vertical PC The primate pedunculopontine nucleus region: towards a dual role in locomotion and waking state brain was stored in phosphate buffer solution and cryoprotected in increasing gradients of sucrose (10, 20, and finally 30 %). Adjacent coronal serial sections of 50 lm cut on a freezing microtome, from both primates, were processed for either a standart Nissl stain or immunocytochemistry for choline acetyltransferase (Stopczynski et al 2008).…”

Paranoid thinking, suspicion, and risk for aggression: A neurodevelopmental perspective

“…Of note, the amygdala, septum, and ventral tegmental area have also been implicated in the generation and maintenance of trusting behavior in adults (Koscik & Tranel, 2011; Krueger et al, 2007). The early developmental course of human structures in this node is still poorly understood; however, evidence from studies of nonhuman species suggests that their functional properties, like those of structures in the detection node, may come on line in the first year of life (Schumann, Bauman, & Amaral, 2011; Stopczynski, Poloskey, & Haber, 2008; Tau & Peterson, 2010).…”