The Distinct Characteristics of Somatostatin Neurons in the Human Brain

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Ivan Banovac
• Author: Dora Sedmak
• Author: Monique Esclapez
• Author: Zdravko Petanjek
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Croatian Institiute for Brain Research)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Anatomy
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Neuroscience

Abstract (english)

Somatostatin cells are frequently described as a major population of GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of their molecular expression, morphological features, and laminar distribution. We provided a detailed description of somatostatin neurons in the human prefrontal cortex, including their proportion in the total neuron population, laminar distribution, neurotransmitter phenotype, as well as their molecular and morphological characteristics using immunofluorescence and RNAscope in situ hybridization. We found that somatostatin neurons comprise around 7% of neocortical neurons in the human Brodmann areas 9 and 14r, without significant difference between the two regions. Somatostatin cells were NeuN positive and synthesized vesicular GABA transporter and glutamate decarboxylase 1 and 2, confirming their neuronal nature and GABAergic phenotype. Somatostatin cells in the upper cortical layers were small, had a high expression of somatostatin mRNA, a relatively low expression of somatostatin peptide, and co-expressed calbindin. In the lower cortical layers, somatostatin cells were larger with complex somato-dendritic morphology, typically showed a lower expression of somatostatin mRNA and a high expression of somatostatin peptide, and co-expressed neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), but not calbindin. Somatostatin neurons in the white matter co-expressed MAP2. Based on their somato-dendritic morphology, cortical somatostatin neurons could be classified into at least five subtypes. The somatostatin neurons of the human prefrontal cortex show remarkable morphological and molecular complexity, which implies that they have equally complex and distinct functions in the human brain.

• Keywords (english): Calbindins / metabolism; Cerebral Cortex / metabolism; GABAergic Neurons / metabolism; Humans; Neuropeptide Y / metabolism; RNA, Messenger / genetics; RNA, Messenger / metabolism; Somatostatin / metabolism
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Molecular Neurobiology
• Numbering: vol. 59, no. 8, pp. 4953-4965
• p-ISSN: 0893-7648
• e-ISSN: 1559-1182
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-022-02892-6
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:004884
• Publication: 2022-08
• Document URL: https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12035-022-02892-6
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access; Embargo expiration date: 2023-09-01
• Created on: 2022-12-29 11:47:47