Abstract
Abnormal development of the amygdala has been linked to several neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. However, the postnatal development of the amygdala is not easily explored at the cellular level in humans. Here we performed a stereological analysis of the macaque monkey amygdala in order to characterize the cellular changes underlying its normal structural development in primates. The lateral, basal, and accessory basal nuclei exhibited the same developmental pattern, with a large increase in volume between birth and 3 months of age, followed by slower growth continuing beyond 1 year of age. In contrast, the medial nucleus was near adult size at birth. At birth, the volume of the central nucleus was half of the adult value; this nucleus exhibited significant growth even after 1 year of age. Neither neuronal soma size, nor neuron or astrocyte numbers changed during postnatal development. In contrast, oligodendrocyte numbers increased substantially, in parallel with an increase in amygdala volume, after 3 months of age. At birth, the paralaminar nucleus contained a large pool of immature neurons that gradually developed into mature neurons, leading to a late increase in the volume of this nucleus. Our findings revealed that distinct amygdala nuclei exhibit different developmental profiles and that the amygdala is not fully mature for some time postnatally. We identified different periods during which pathogenic factors might lead to the abnormal development of distinct amygdala circuits, which may contribute to different human neurodevelopmental disorders associated with alterations of amygdala structure and functions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1965-1984 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Journal of Comparative Neurology |
| Volume | 520 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 15 2012 |
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Keywords
- Amygdaloid complex
- Anxiety
- Astrocytes
- Autism
- Emotion
- Fear
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Neurons
- Neuropil
- Oligodendrocytes
- Schizophrenia
- Social behavior
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Postnatal development of the amygdala : A stereological study in macaque monkeys. / Chareyron, Loïc J.; Lavenex, Pamela Banta; Amaral, David G; Lavenex, Pierre.
In: Journal of Comparative Neurology, Vol. 520, No. 9, 15.06.2012, p. 1965-1984.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Postnatal development of the amygdala
T2 - A stereological study in macaque monkeys
AU - Chareyron, Loïc J.
AU - Lavenex, Pamela Banta
AU - Amaral, David G
AU - Lavenex, Pierre
PY - 2012/6/15
Y1 - 2012/6/15
N2 - Abnormal development of the amygdala has been linked to several neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. However, the postnatal development of the amygdala is not easily explored at the cellular level in humans. Here we performed a stereological analysis of the macaque monkey amygdala in order to characterize the cellular changes underlying its normal structural development in primates. The lateral, basal, and accessory basal nuclei exhibited the same developmental pattern, with a large increase in volume between birth and 3 months of age, followed by slower growth continuing beyond 1 year of age. In contrast, the medial nucleus was near adult size at birth. At birth, the volume of the central nucleus was half of the adult value; this nucleus exhibited significant growth even after 1 year of age. Neither neuronal soma size, nor neuron or astrocyte numbers changed during postnatal development. In contrast, oligodendrocyte numbers increased substantially, in parallel with an increase in amygdala volume, after 3 months of age. At birth, the paralaminar nucleus contained a large pool of immature neurons that gradually developed into mature neurons, leading to a late increase in the volume of this nucleus. Our findings revealed that distinct amygdala nuclei exhibit different developmental profiles and that the amygdala is not fully mature for some time postnatally. We identified different periods during which pathogenic factors might lead to the abnormal development of distinct amygdala circuits, which may contribute to different human neurodevelopmental disorders associated with alterations of amygdala structure and functions.
AB - Abnormal development of the amygdala has been linked to several neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. However, the postnatal development of the amygdala is not easily explored at the cellular level in humans. Here we performed a stereological analysis of the macaque monkey amygdala in order to characterize the cellular changes underlying its normal structural development in primates. The lateral, basal, and accessory basal nuclei exhibited the same developmental pattern, with a large increase in volume between birth and 3 months of age, followed by slower growth continuing beyond 1 year of age. In contrast, the medial nucleus was near adult size at birth. At birth, the volume of the central nucleus was half of the adult value; this nucleus exhibited significant growth even after 1 year of age. Neither neuronal soma size, nor neuron or astrocyte numbers changed during postnatal development. In contrast, oligodendrocyte numbers increased substantially, in parallel with an increase in amygdala volume, after 3 months of age. At birth, the paralaminar nucleus contained a large pool of immature neurons that gradually developed into mature neurons, leading to a late increase in the volume of this nucleus. Our findings revealed that distinct amygdala nuclei exhibit different developmental profiles and that the amygdala is not fully mature for some time postnatally. We identified different periods during which pathogenic factors might lead to the abnormal development of distinct amygdala circuits, which may contribute to different human neurodevelopmental disorders associated with alterations of amygdala structure and functions.
KW - Amygdaloid complex
KW - Anxiety
KW - Astrocytes
KW - Autism
KW - Emotion
KW - Fear
KW - Neurodevelopmental disorders
KW - Neurons
KW - Neuropil
KW - Oligodendrocytes
KW - Schizophrenia
KW - Social behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859517425&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859517425&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/cne.23023
DO - 10.1002/cne.23023
M3 - Article
C2 - 22173686
AN - SCOPUS:84859517425
VL - 520
SP - 1965
EP - 1984
JO - Journal of Comparative Neurology
JF - Journal of Comparative Neurology
SN - 0021-9967
IS - 9
ER -