Comprehensive Morphometric Analysis of the Rhomboid Fossa: Implications for Safe Entry Zones in Brainstem Surgery.

Background: The rhomboid fossa (RF) is a crucial anatomical region in brainstem surgery as it contains essential structures such as the reticular formation and cranial nerve nuclei. This study aimed to provide a detailed understanding of the complex microsurgical anatomy of the RF, which is vital for the safe execution of neurosurgical procedures.

Methods: Morphometric analysis was conducted on 45 adult human brainstems preserved in 10% formalin.

Bror Rexed (1914-2002) and His Pioneer Works on Spinal Cord Cytoarchitecture.

Swedish neuroscientist Bror Anders Rexed lived between 1914 and 2002. He was a renowned neuroscientist and a politician who packed a lot into his 88-year life. Bror Rexed is best known for his works on the description of the cytoarchitectonic organization of the cat spinal cord.

The seminal contributions of Benedict Stilling (1810-1879) to neuroanatomy.

Benedict Stilling (1810-1879), was a prolific, prominent, and ambitious anatomist, who performed works on the organization of the nervous system for many years. He made numerous observations on the anatomy of the nervous system in various animal species. Stilling contributed to the establishment of significant foundations in the anatomy of the spinal cord, brainstem, and cerebellum.

Effects of cyanocobalamin and its combination with morphine on neuropathic rats and the relationship between these effects and thrombospondin-4 expression.

Background: Thrombospondin-4 (TSP4) upregulates in the spinal cord following peripheral nerve injury and contributes to the development of neuropathic pain (NP). We investigated the effects of cyanocobalamin alone or in combination with morphine on pain and the relationship between these effects and spinal TSP4 expression in neuropathic rats.

Methods: NP was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve.

Microsurgical anatomy of safe entry zones on the ventrolateral brainstem: a morphometric study.

Surgery of the brainstem is challenging due to the complexity of the area with cranial nerve nuclei, reticular formation, and ascending and descending fibers. Safe entry zones are required to reach the intrinsic lesions of the brainstem. The aim of this study was to provide detailed measurements for anatomical landmark zones of the ventrolateral surface of the human brainstem related to previously described safe entry zones.

Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

Purpose: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is raised intracranial pressure without any identifiable etiology. The inner ear structures are susceptible to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure changes because of connections between the CSF space and the labyrinth to explain the audiovestibular symptoms, such as pulsatile tinnitus or dizziness, reported in 50% to 60% of these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the vestibular functions using cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) in IIH.

Dorsal Horn of Mouse Lumbar Spinal Cord Imaged with CLARITY.

The organization of the mouse spinal dorsal horn has been delineated in 2D for the six Rexed laminae in our publication . In the present study, the tissue clearing technique CLARITY was used to observe the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the mouse spinal cord in 3D, using a variety of immunohistochemical markers. We confirm prior observations regarding the location of glycine and serotonin immunoreactivities.

Acknowledging the use of human cadaveric tissues in research papers: Recommendations from anatomical journal editors.

Research within the anatomical sciences often relies on human cadaveric tissues. Without the good will of these donors who allow us to use their bodies to push forward our anatomical knowledge, most human anatomical research would come to a standstill. However, many research papers omit an acknowledgement to the donor cadavers or, as no current standardized versions exist, use language that is extremely varied.

Human cremaster muscle and cremasteric reflex: A comprehensive review.

Objective: Human research on the cremaster muscle (CM), cremasteric reflex (CMR) and genitofemoral nerve (GFN) and reports on their clinical applications using electrophysiological and histological techniques are rare. We aimed to present a detailed review of the human CM and CMR based on our earlier publications and relevant literature.

Methods: Electromyography (EMG) of the CM was recorded using disposable needle electrodes.

Odor Enrichment Increases Hippocampal Neuron Numbers in Mouse.

The hippocampus and olfactory bulb incorporate new neurons migrating from neurogenic regions in the brain. Hippocampal atrophy is evident in numerous neurodegenerative disorders, and altered hippocampal neurogenesis is an early pathological event in Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that hippocampal neurogenesis is affected by olfactory stimuli through the neural pathway of olfaction-related memory.

Topographic Classification of the Thalamus Surfaces Related to Microneurosurgery: A White Matter Fiber Microdissection Study.

Objective: To describe the topographic anatomy of surgically accessible surfaces of the human thalamus as a guide to surgical exploration of this sensitive area.

Methods: Using the operating microscope, we applied the fiber microdissection technique to study 10 brain specimens. Step-by-step dissections in superior-inferior, medial-lateral, and posterior-anterior directions were conducted to expose the surfaces and nuclei of the thalamus and to investigate the relevant anatomic relationships and visible connections.

The spinal cord of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

The marmoset spinal cord possesses all the characteristic features of a typical mammalian spinal cord, but with some interesting variation in the levels of origin of the limb nerves. In our study Nissl and ChAT sections of the each segment of the spinal cord in two marmosets (Ma5 and Ma8), we found that the spinal cord can be functionally and anatomically divided into six regions: the prebrachial region (C1 to C3); the brachial region (C4 to C8) - segments supplying the upper limb; the post-brachial region (T1 to L1) - containing the sympathetic outflow, and supplying the hypaxial muscles of the body wall; the crural region (L2 to L5) - segments supplying the lower limb; the postcrural region (L6) - containing the parasympathetic outflow; and the caudal region (L7 to Co4) - supplying the tail. In the rat, mouse, and rhesus monkey, the prebrachial region consists of segments C1 to C4 (with the phrenic nucleus located at the C4 segment), and the brachial region extends from C5 to T1 inclusive.

Spinal cord projections to the cerebellum in the mouse.

The projections from the spinal cord to the cerebellar cortex were studied using retrograde neuronal tracers. Thus far, no study has shown the detailed topographic mapping of the projections from the spinal neuron clusters to the cerebellar cortex regions for experimental animals, and there are no studies for the mouse. Tracers Fluoro-Gold and cholera toxin B were injected into circumscribed regions of the cerebellar cortex, and retrogradely labeled spinal cord neurons were mapped throughout the spinal cord.

Vertebral landmarks for the identification of spinal cord segments in the mouse.

Accurate identification of spinal cord segments in relation to vertebral landmarks is essential to surgery aimed at experimental spinal cord injury. We have analyzed a complete series of high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) images from the mouse spine in order to delineate the boundaries of spinal cord segments in relation to vertebral landmarks. The resulting atlas can be used to plan experimental approaches that require the accurate identification of a target spinal cord segment.

The spinal precerebellar nuclei: calcium binding proteins and gene expression profile in the mouse.

We have localized the spinocerebellar neuron groups in C57BL/6J mice by injecting the retrograde neuronal tracer Fluoro-Gold into the cerebellum and examined the distribution of SMI 32 and the calcium-binding proteins (CBPs), calbindin-D-28K (Cb), calretinin (Cr), and parvalbumin (Pv) in the spinal precerebellar nuclei. The spinal precerebellar neuron clusters identified were the dorsal nucleus, central cervical nucleus, lumbar border precerebellar nucleus, lumbar precerebellar nucleus, and sacral precerebellar nucleus. Some dispersed neurons in the deep dorsal horn and spinal laminae 6-8 also projected to the cerebellum.

Cytoarchitecture of the spinal cord of the postnatal (P4) mouse.

Interpretation of the new wealth of gene expression and molecular mechanisms in the developing mouse spinal cord requires an accurate anatomical base on which data can be mapped. Therefore, we have assembled a spinal cord atlas of the P4 mouse to facilitate direct comparison with the adult specimens and to contribute to studies of the development of the mouse spinal cord. This study presents the anatomy of the spinal cord of the P4 C57Bl/6J mouse using Nissl and acetyl cholinesterase-stained sections.

Musculotopic organization of the motor neurons supplying forelimb and shoulder girdle muscles in the mouse.

We identified the motor neurons (MNs) supplying the shoulder girdle and forelimb muscles in the C57BL/6J mouse spinal cord using Fluoro-Gold retrograde tracer injections. In spinal cord transverse sections from C2 to T2, we observed two MN columns (medial and lateral) both with ventral and dorsal subdivisions. The dorsolateral column consisted of the biceps brachii, forearm extensors, forearm flexors, and hand MNs, and the ventrolateral column consisted of the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, teres major, deltoid, and triceps MNs.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on neuroregeneration following acute thoracic spinal cord injury.

Aims: Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment following spinal cord injury (SCI) have been studied in terms of neurological function and tissue histology, there is a limited number studies on spinal cord tissue enzyme levels.

Main Methods: The effect of HBO treatment in SCI was investigated by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nitric oxide (NO) activity in the injured tissue. SCI was induced by applying an aneurysm clip extradurally at the level of T9-T11 vertebrae.

NADPH-d and Fos reactivity in the rat spinal cord following experimental spinal cord injury and embryonic neural stem cell transplantation.

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in neuropathic pain and the effect of embryonic neural stem cell (ENSC) transplantation on NO content in rat spinal cord neurons following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Main Methods: Ninety adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n=30, each): control (laminectomy), SCI (hemisection at T12-T13 segments) and SCI+ENSC. Each group was further divided into sub-groups (n=5 each) based on the treatment substance (L-NAME, 75 mg/kg/i.