Von Economo Neurons and Fork Cells: A Neurochemical Signature Linked to Monoaminergic Function

Anke A Dijkstra; Li-Chun Lin; Alissa L Nana; Stephanie E Gaus; William W Seeley

doi:10.1093/cercor/bhw358

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Von Economo Neurons and Fork Cells: A Neurochemical Signature Linked to Monoaminergic Function

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Von Economo Neurons and Fork Cells: A Neurochemical Signature Linked to Monoaminergic Function

Anke A Dijkstra, Li-Chun Lin, Alissa L Nana, Stephanie E Gaus and William W Seeley

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991), Vol.28(1), pp.131-144

01/01/2018

DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw358

PMCID: PMC6075576

PMID: 27913432

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Abstract

The human anterior cingulate and frontoinsular cortices are distinguished by 2 unique Layer 5 neuronal morphotypes, the von Economo neurons (VENs) and fork cells, whose biological identity remains mysterious. Insights could impact research on diverse neuropsychiatric diseases to which these cells have been linked. Here, we leveraged the Allen Brain Atlas to evaluate mRNA expression of 176 neurotransmitter-related genes and identified vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit θ (GABRQ), and adrenoreceptor α-1A (ADRA1A) expression in human VENs, fork cells, and a minority of neighboring Layer 5 neurons. We confirmed these results using immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization. VMAT2 and GABRQ expression was absent in mouse cerebral cortex. Although VMAT2 is known to package monoamines into synaptic vesicles, in VENs and fork cells its expression occurs in the absence of monoamine-synthesizing enzymes or reuptake transporters. Thus, VENs and fork cells may possess a novel, uncharacterized mode of cortical monoaminergic function that distinguishes them from most other mammalian Layer 5 neurons.

Adolescent

Adult

Animals

Atlases as Topic

Biogenic Monoamines - metabolism

Cerebral Cortex - cytology

Cerebral Cortex - growth & development

Cerebral Cortex - metabolism

Child

Gene Expression

Humans

Infant

Macaca mulatta

Mice

Middle Aged

Neurons - cytology

Neurons - metabolism

Plasma Membrane Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins - metabolism

Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 - metabolism

Receptors, GABA-A - metabolism

RNA, Messenger - metabolism

Species Specificity

Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins - metabolism

Details

Title: Subtitle: Von Economo Neurons and Fork Cells: A Neurochemical Signature Linked to Monoaminergic Function
Creators: Anke A Dijkstra - University of California, San Francisco
Li-Chun Lin - University of California, San Francisco
Alissa L Nana - University of California, San Francisco
Stephanie E Gaus - University of California, San Francisco
William W Seeley - University of California, San Francisco
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991), Vol.28(1), pp.131-144
DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw358
PMID: 27913432
PMCID: PMC6075576
ISSN: 1047-3211
eISSN: 1460-2199
Grant note: P01 AG019724 / NIA NIH HHS HHSN275200900011C / NICHD NIH HHS P50 AG023501 / NIA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2018
Academic Unit: Neurology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Record Identifier: 9984184171702771

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