Neuronal and Glial Cell Number Is Altered in a Cortical Layer-Specific Manner in Autism

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Y

16

Autism; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Neurological Impairments; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Cytology; Prenatal Influences; Children; Adolescents; Adults

10.1177/13623613211014408

1362-3613

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors. Changes in the number of specific cell types in the cerebral cortex could produce a dramatic alteration in the regulation of cortical circuits, and thus an alteration of behavior. We investigated whether there are layer-specific changes in the number of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in the prefrontal cortex in postmortem human brains from autism spectrum disorder subjects. We quantified the number of specific cell types in the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 9, 46, and 47) of 10 cases with autism spectrum disorder and 10 age-matched control cases. We found that the number of neurons was increased and the number of astrocytes was decreased in layer II of all three prefrontal areas. Area BA47 was most widely affected presenting with an increased number of neurons and a decreased number of astrocytes in layer II and deeper layers of the cortex. Among other possibilities, the alterations in neuron and glial cell number we report here are consistent with a failure of radial glial cells to shift daughter cell production from neurons to astrocytes during prenatal cortical development in autism spectrum disorder. The data provided here are key anatomical findings that shed light on autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis.

As Provided

2021

EJ1312122