Cytoarchitectural Development of the Human Dentate Nucleus: A Golgi Study

Abstract

Golgi-stained sections of the human cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN) at various gestational ages were examined to study the dendritic proliferation and maturation of the DN neurons. Bipolar cells were seen at 14–15 weeks. By 19–20 weeks, three cell types were identifiable: bipolar, hemisphereic and pyriform. The cells of the dorsomedial region matured earlier than those of the ventrolateral region. In addition to the above cell types, multipolar and nuclear boundary cells were observable at 24–25 weeks. The five cell types persisted during subsequent development. At no stage of development was any neuronal organizational pattern apparent. A remarkable dendritic proliferation occurred at 27–28 weeks. Spines and filiform processes were seen at 34 weeks of intrauterine life.

Mathematical Model of Neuronal Morphology: Prenatal Development of the Human Dentate Nucleus

“…The camera lucida drawings of Golgi impregnated neurons, taken from human fetuses of gestational ages ranging from 14 to 41 weeks, were taken from [8–10, 12] with permission. Details on fetal cadavers, histological procedure, fetal data, and original images can be found therein.…”

“…However, despite the critical role of the dentate nucleus in the cerebellar function and motor control, only a few studies have dealt with prenatal development of this deep cerebellar nucleus in humans [8–12]. During the period from 8 gestational weeks to 10 years, the human dentate nucleus changes in size and shape, as well as in its neuronal composition [1].…”

“…During the period from 8 gestational weeks to 10 years, the human dentate nucleus changes in size and shape, as well as in its neuronal composition [1]. Detailed morphological analysis of Golgi and Nissl staining of the neonatal human dentate nucleus documented the presence of various cell types and their development [8–10, 12]. Although the growth of dendrites and the formation of a characteristic dendritic arbor constitute one of the major morphogenetic events in the prenatal development of a neuron, these aspects were not adequately analyzed in those studies.…”

“…Although the growth of dendrites and the formation of a characteristic dendritic arbor constitute one of the major morphogenetic events in the prenatal development of a neuron, these aspects were not adequately analyzed in those studies. Authors attempted to provide parameters (the dendritic field and the number of dendritic intersections) of neuronal morphology during gestation by using rather crude measurements of the overall size of the dendritic field and loosely defined parameters describing criteria of branching complexity [12]. Consequently, a detailed quantification of branching complexity of the dendritic arbor neurons of the dentate nucleus during its development in the prenatal period is lacking.…”

Quantitative analysis of the change in neuronal numerical density of the human nucleus dentatus within development

“…Razvoj zupčastog jedra kod čoveka proučavali su mnogi autori koristeći klasične anatomske, histološke i morfološke analize [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] .…”