Unchanged total number of neurons in motor cortex and neocortex in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a stereological study

Modern stereological methods provide precise and reliable estimates of the number of neurons in specific regions of the brain. The total number of neurons in the neocortex and motor cortex from eight patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and nine controls was estimated. No atte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neuroscience methods 2000-02, Vol.95 (2), p.171-176
Main Authors: Gredal, Ole, Pakkenberg, Henning, Karlsborg, Merete, Pakkenberg, Bente
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - pathology
Biological and medical sciences
Brain volumes
Cell Count
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Motor cortex
Motor Cortex - pathology
Neocortex
Neocortex - pathology
Neurology
Neurons - pathology
Quantification
Stereology
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Summary:Modern stereological methods provide precise and reliable estimates of the number of neurons in specific regions of the brain. The total number of neurons in the neocortex and motor cortex from eight patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and nine controls was estimated. No attempt was made to estimate subpopulations of neurons such as the number of giant pyramidal cells of Betz. No difference was found in the average number of neurons in neocortex in ALS and controls, 21.7 and 22.3×10 9, respectively, and 1.33 and 1.29×10 9 in motor cortex, respectively. In the light of our stereological measurements, results obtained from in-vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1H-MRS), suggesting neuronal loss in ALS, may instead be due to neuronal metabolic dysfunction and/or alteration in the size or the volume fraction of the neurons.
ISSN:0165-0270
1872-678X
DOI:10.1016/S0165-0270(99)00175-2