Histophysiologic approach in the study of the structural organization of the human cerebral cortex in ontogenesis

Abstract

We have studied the III³ sublayer in the speech-motor area 44 and the integrative area 10 of the frontal region of the cortex of the 119 left cerebral hemispheres in patients of both sexes from birth to 20 years old. Histologic material was Nissl-stained with cresyle violet, and also Peters-stained with alternate argentic nitrate, and with Golgi method. The analysis of virtual images of neurons, fibers, gliacytes, and blood vessels was conducted with the program Image-Tools and stereometric method. Results. In postnatal ontogenesis in brain cortical formations on the growth and development associated changes took place in the specific volume of the main microstructural components, leading not only to a change in the structural organization of higher cortical brain formations, but also to the transformation of their natural histophysiology. The most significant changes in the opercular area were observed during the first year, as well as by 3, 5, 8 and 11 years. In anterolateral prefrontal cortex they were observed in the first year of life, in 3-6 years, and also in 9-10 and 12-13 years. Conclusions. It was detected the differences of postnatal changes in structures directly involved into information activity, as well as the entities that regulate trophic and metabolic processes in the cortex. It is showed the heterochrony and zonal differences in the rate and timing of the formation of the microstructure and histophysiology frontal cortex at different stages of postnatal ontogeny associated with advancing development opercular area.