1 January 2013 in Archives of Biological Sciences
IZIvana Zivanovic-Macuzic
+7
The nucleus accumbens is a limbic nucleus, representing part of the striatum body, and together with the caudate nucleus and putamen, it lies on the septum. The aim of this study was to examine morphological sexual dimorphism in spine density and also to undertake an immunohistochemical study of expression for estrogen and progesterone receptors in the medium-sized neurons in the nucleus accumbens. The research was conducted on twenty human brains of persons of both sexes, between the age of 20-75 years. The Golgi method was applied to determine the types and subtypes of neurons, morphologies of soma, dendrites and axons, as well as the relations between the cells and glial elements. The following were quantitatively examined: the maximum diameter of the neurons, the minimal diameter of the neurons, and the total length of the dendrites. The expression of receptors for estrogen and progesterone, their distribution and intensity were defined immunohistochemically. The parameters of the bodies of neurons in the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens were studied in both men and women. No statistically significant differences were found. Examination of the spine density showed statistical significance in terms of a higher density of spines in women. Immunohistochemically, in the female brain estrogen expression is diffusely spread in a large number of neurons; it is extra nuclear, of granular appearance and high intensity. In the male brain, expression of estrogen is visible and distributed over about one half of different types of neurons; it is extra nuclear, of granular appearance, mostly of middle and low staining intensity. Expression of progesterone in the female brain was very discreet and on a very small number of neurons; it was extra nuclear and with a weak staining intensity. Expression of progesterone in the male brain was distributed on a small number of neurons. It had a granular appearance, it was extra nuclear, with a very low staining intensity. Our results show differences in the morphology as well as expression of receptors for estrogen and progesterone on medium-sized neurons with spines in the nucleus accumbens of men and women
1 January 2014 in Archives of Biological Sciences
The aim of this study was to determine the nasal parameters in the population of central Serbia and to compare them with those determined in earlier studies in different populations. The research was conducted on 496 randomly selected persons (262 males and 234 females), aged 18-65 years. The measured parameters were nasal height and nasal breadth and the standard spreading caliper with scale was used for measurements. There were significant differences in the nasal parameters between male and female subjects. The nasal breadth was 34.72 mm in females, and in the male population it was 36.7 mm. The mean values of nasal height were 52.6 mm and 54.32 mm in females and males, respectively. The nasal index in females and males was 66.01 and 67.56, respectively, and the mean value of the nasal index of all respondents was 66.78. After conducting the research it was concluded that the dominant nasal type in the population of the central part of Serbia is leptorrhine. The present study showed the existence of sexual dimorphism in nasal morphology. The data obtained in our study may be useful in anthropological and forensic research, as well as in cosmetic planning and reconstructive surgery.
1 January 2014 in Medicinski casopis
The habenular nuclear complex presents bilateral part of epithalamus, consisting of medial (nc. habenularis medialis - MHb) and lateral (nc. habenularis lateralis - LHb) habenular nucleus. According to its anatomical position and neuronal connections it is a 'crossroads' of pathways of the limbic system and basal ganglia. The human habenular complex is involved in control of brain reward system and it is considered to play a very important role in emotional processes. It is involved in the regulation of the activity of dopaminergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic and cholinergic neurons of the brainstem and their transmission in structures involved in cognitive processes. It participates in determination of behavior and motor responses, acting through motivational processes. The dysfunction of the complex may be important for the development of a variety of neurological and mental disorders. Lesions of habenular complex lead to cognitive and motor dysfunction, behavioral changes, changes in response to pain, stress, sleep disorders, mood and attention disorders and inadequate value-based decision-making. In recent years, there is a growing interest of scientists in this brain structure, as it represents the target area of new therapeutic methods of treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.
1 December 2016 in Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
The nucleus accumbens is a part of the ventral striatum along with the caudate nucleus and putamen. The role of the human nucleus accumbens in drug addiction and other psychiatric disorders is of great importance. The aim of this study was to characterize medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens according to the immunohistochemical expression of GAD67. This study was conducted on twenty human brains of both sexes between the ages of 20 and 75. The expression of GAD67 was assessed immunohistochemically, and the characterization of the neurons was based on the shape and size of the soma and the number of impregnated primary dendrites. We showed that neurons of the human nucleus accumbens expressed GAD67 in the neuron soma and in the primary dendrites. An analysis of the cell body morphology revealed the following four different types of neurons: fusiform neurons, fusiform neurons with lateral dendrites, pyramidal neurons and multipolar neurons. An immunohistochemical analysis showed a strong GAD67 expression in GABAergic medium spiny neurons, which could be classifi ed into four different types, and these neurons morphologically correlated with those described by the Golgi study.
1 January 2012 in Medicinski casopis
Objective. This study was conducted in order to find out whether there was any particular association between the neuronal body shapes and their immunoreactivity on substance P neurons in the supramarginal and angular gyri of inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Methods. Substance P (SP) neuropeptide was examined in the human brain (3 male and 4 female) without any neurological and psychiatric diseases, by using the method of immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactive neurons and fibers were visualized by using Olympus BT2 Camera Lucida. The collected data were statistically analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance, with the probability level p=<0.05. Results. The largest somas were obtained among SP positive neurons. Average diameters (± SD) were: longer diameter 44.93 ± 15.69 mm, shorter diameter 18.16 ± 3.77 mm. One-way analysis of variance revealed the highly significant difference among the longer axis of immunopositive neurons (p=0.002). Conclusion. A quarter of detected SP neurons were localized in lamina II of the IPL cortex. The least populated layer was lamina I (less than a tenth of all immunoreactive neurons).