A comparative perspective on minicolumns and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons in the neocortex

• Published in: Frontiers in neuroanatomy Vol. 4; p. 3
• Main Authors: Raghanti, Mary Ann, Spocter, Muhammad A, Butti, Camilla, Hof, Patrick R, Sherwood, Chet C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 05-02-2010; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Animal cognition; Autism; calbindin; Calcium-binding protein; Calcium-Binding Proteins; calretinin; Cell cycle; Cognitive ability; Cortex; Encephalization; evolution; Interneurons; Measurement techniques; Mental disorders; Morphology; Neurons; Neuropathology; Neuroscience; Neurosciences; parvalbumin; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Schizophrenia; γ-Aminobutyric acid; New York; United States > US; calbindin; calretinin; evolution; parvalbumin; calcium-binding proteins; neuropathology
• ISSN: 1662-5129; 1662-5129
• DOI: 10.3389/neuro.05.003.2010

Neocortical columns are functional and morphological units whose architecture may have been under selective evolutionary pressure in different mammalian lineages in response to encephalization and specializations of cognitive abilities. Inhibitory interneurons make a substantial contribution to the morphology and distribution of minicolumns within the cortex. In this context, we review differences in minicolumns and GABAergic interneurons among species and discuss possible implications for signaling among and within minicolumns. Furthermore, we discuss how abnormalities of both minicolumn disposition and inhibitory interneurons might be associated with neuropathological processes, such as Alzheimer's disease, autism, and schizophrenia. Specifically, we explore the possibility that phylogenetic variability in calcium-binding protein-expressing interneuron subtypes is directly related to differences in minicolumn morphology among species and might contribute to neuropathological susceptibility in humans.