PSA-NCAM expression in the human prefrontal cortex

J Chem Neuroanat. 2007 Jul;33(4):202-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2007.03.006. Epub 2007 Mar 31.

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult rodents is capable of undergoing neuronal remodeling and neuroimaging studies in humans have revealed that the structure of this region also appears affected in different psychiatric disorders. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this plasticity are still unclear. The polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) may mediate these structural changes through its anti-adhesive properties. PSA-NCAM participates in neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis and changes in its expression occur parallel to neuronal remodeling in certain regions of the adult brain. PSA-NCAM is expressed in the hippocampus and temporal cortex of adult humans, but it has not been studied in the PFC. Employing immunohistochemistry on sections from the rostromedial superior frontal gyrus we have found that PSA-NCAM is expressed in the human PFC neuropil following a laminated pattern and in a subpopulation of mature neurons, which lack doublecortin expression. Most of these cells have been identified as interneurons expressing calbindin. The expression of PSA-NCAM in the human PFC is similar to that of rodents. Since this molecule has been linked to the neuronal remodeling found in experimental models of depression, it may also participate in the structural plasticity described in the PFC of depressed patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Calbindins
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Dendrites / metabolism
  • Dendrites / ultrastructure
  • Depressive Disorder / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Interneurons / cytology
  • Interneurons / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / metabolism*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Neuropil / cytology
  • Neuropil / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / cytology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Rodentia / anatomy & histology
  • Rodentia / metabolism
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / metabolism
  • Sialic Acids / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Calbindins
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G
  • Sialic Acids
  • polysialyl neural cell adhesion molecule