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Brain Struct Funct (2014) 219:18131830 DOI 10.1007/s00429-013-0603-x
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the human claustrum
D. V. Hinova-Palova L. Edelstein
B. V. Landzhov E. Braak L. G. Malinova
M. Minkov A. Paloff W. Ovtscharoff
Received: 19 April 2013 / Accepted: 20 June 2013 / Published online: 6 July 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Abstract The morphology and distribution of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons (PV-ir) were studied in the human claustrum. PV-ir neurons were observed throughout the claustrum, with the highest numbers noted in the central (broadest) portion as compared with the dorsal and ventral aspects. Reaction product was evident in the neuronal perikarya, dendritic processes, and spines. In the majority of these labeled neurons, the cytoplasm was devoid of lipofuscin pigment. Cell bodies varied widely in both shape and size, ranging from oval and small, to multipolar and large. PV-ir neurons were classied into two groups, primarily based on dendritic morphology: spiny neurons with long and straight dendrites, and aspiny neurons with thin and curving dendritic processes. PV-ir bers were seen throughout the neuropil, with many immuno-positive puncta noted.
Keywords Claustrum Parvalbumin Calcium-binding
proteins Immunocytochemistry Light microscopy
Human brain
Introduction
The claustrum is one of the least investigated telencephalic structures in the mammalian brain, its functional signicance long the subject of debate (Crick and Koch 2005; Edelstein and Denaro 2004b; Smythies et al. 2012). In humans, situated in sheet-like fashion between the insular cortex and putamen, and bordered by the external and extreme capsules, the claustrum was rst depicted by the noted French physician/anatomist Felix Vicq dAzyr in his historic treatise (Vicq dAzyr 1786) and described as: Tractus cortical trs dli qui se trouve entre le sillon de Sylvius et les corps stris [Separated cortical tract between the Sylvian ssure and the corpus striatum] It is generally believed that the German physiologist Karl Burdach rst ascribed the name claustrum to this nucleus (Burdach 1822). It is present in all mammals (Guirado et al. 2003; Real et al. 2003; Edelstein and Denaro 2004b; Ashwell et al. 2004). The dimensions of the claustrum can vary greatly by species (De Vries 1910; Landau 1923; Berlucchi 1927; Loo 1931; Brockhaus 1940; Macchi 1948; Rae 1954; Stelmasiak 1955; Berke 1960; Pilleri 1961, 1962; Narkiewicz 1964; Filimonoff 1966; Druga 1974, 1975; Zilles et...