TY - JOUR
T1 - Neocortical neuron morphology in Afrotheria
T2 - Comparing the rock hyrax with the African elephant
AU - Bianchi, Serena
AU - Bauernfeind, Amy L.
AU - Gupta, Kanika
AU - Stimpson, Cheryl D.
AU - Spocter, Muhammad A.
AU - Bonar, Christopher J.
AU - Manger, Paul R.
AU - Hof, Patrick R.
AU - Jacobs, Bob
AU - Sherwood, Chet C.
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - The mammalian neocortex contains a great variety of neuronal types. In particular, recent studies have shown substantial morphological diversity among spiny projecting neurons in species that diverged close to the base of the mammalian radiation (e.g., monotremes, afrotherians, and xenarthrans). Here, we used a Golgi technique to examine different neuronal morphologies in an afrotherian species, the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), and provide a comparison with the related African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Results showed that spiny neurons in the rock hyrax neocortex exhibit less morphological variation than in elephants, displaying a higher frequency of relatively "typical" pyramidal neurons. A quantitative comparison of rock hyrax pyramidal neuron morphology between frontal and visual areas, moreover, revealed greater spine density of neurons in frontal cortex, but no differences in other morphological aspects. Regional variations in pyramidal structure have also been observed in the African elephant, as well as a number of primate species.
AB - The mammalian neocortex contains a great variety of neuronal types. In particular, recent studies have shown substantial morphological diversity among spiny projecting neurons in species that diverged close to the base of the mammalian radiation (e.g., monotremes, afrotherians, and xenarthrans). Here, we used a Golgi technique to examine different neuronal morphologies in an afrotherian species, the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), and provide a comparison with the related African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Results showed that spiny neurons in the rock hyrax neocortex exhibit less morphological variation than in elephants, displaying a higher frequency of relatively "typical" pyramidal neurons. A quantitative comparison of rock hyrax pyramidal neuron morphology between frontal and visual areas, moreover, revealed greater spine density of neurons in frontal cortex, but no differences in other morphological aspects. Regional variations in pyramidal structure have also been observed in the African elephant, as well as a number of primate species.
KW - Afrotheria
KW - Dendrite
KW - Elephant
KW - Evolution
KW - Golgi
KW - Rock hyrax
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955526854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.05991.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.05991.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21534991
AN - SCOPUS:79955526854
VL - 1225
SP - 37
EP - 46
JO - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
JF - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
SN - 0077-8923
IS - 1
ER -