Evolution of increased glia-neuron ratios in the human frontal cortex.

ABSTRACT: Evidence from comparative studies of gene expression and evolution suggest that human neocortical neurons may be characterized by unusually high levels of energy metabolism. The current study examined whether there is a disproportionate increase in glial cell density in the human frontal cortex in comparison with other anthropoid primate species (New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and hominoids) to support greater metabolic demands. Among 18 species of anthropoids, humans displayed the greatest departure from allometric scaling expectations for the density of glia relative to neurons in layer II/III of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (area 9L). However, the human glia-neuron ratio in this prefrontal region did not differ significantly from allometric predictions based on brain size. Furt

SUBMITTER: Sherwood CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1564260 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature