Von Economo neurons are present in the dorsolateral (dysgranular) prefrontal cortex of humans.

Von Economo neurons (VENs), also known as spindle cells, have been described in layer V of the anterior cingulate (BA 24) and frontoinsular cortex (FI) of humans and other great apes. In the present study we used immunohistochemistry against two specific neuronal markers (NeuN and MAP2) in order to establish the presence of these cell types in Brodmann area 9 (BA 9) of the human prefrontal cortex. We evaluated tissue samples of eight human postmortem brains (age range 26-50) from BAs 9, 24, 4, 46, 45, 10 and 17. We identified a group of cells with similar morphology to that previously described for VENs in all specimens of BA 9 examined, albeit less frequently than in BA 24. This is the first description of this cell type in a human brain area with well developed granular layers (BA 9).

[Immunoscintigraphy in stomach neoplasms with anti-CEA BW 431/26 monoclonal antibodies marked with Tc 99 m]. / Inmunocintigráfia en cáncer gástrico con anticuerpo monoclonal anti-CEA BW 431/26 marcado con TC 99 M.

A 57 year old female had a tubular gastric adenocarcinoma confirmed by endoscopy and radiologic studies. Echotomography of the abdomen revealed multiple adenopathies. Immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc labeled anti-CEA BW 431/26 monoclonal antibody was performed. Images obtained at 6 and 24 h showed a significant uptake at the primary lesion and at periaortic adenopathies both in conventional gamma-camera and single emission photon tomography. This immuno-scintigraphic technique may be helpful in the management of patients with gastric cancer.

Architecture of apical dendrites in the murine neocortex: dual apical dendritic systems.

A monoclonal antibody (5F9) against microtubule-associated protein 2 is a selective and sensitive marker for neocortical dendrites in the mouse. The marker stains all dendrites. It affords a particularly comprehensive picture of the patterns of arrangements of apical dendrites which are most intensely stained with this antibody. Dual systems of apical dendrites arise from the polymorphic neurons of layer VI, on the one hand, and the pyramidal neurons of layers II-V, on the other. Terminal arborization of the former is concentrated principally at the interface of layers V and IV, while that of the latter is in the molecular layer. Apical dendrites of both systems are grouped into fascicles. In supragranular layers and in upper layer VI-lower layer V, where apical dendrites are most abundant, the fascicles coalesce into septa. These generate a honeycomb-like pattern, subdividing these cortical levels into columnar spaces of approximately 20-40 micron diameter. At the level of layer IV, where the number of apical dendrites is greatly reduced, the fascicles are isolated bundles. These bundles have the form of circular, elliptical or rectangular columns in the primary somatosensory, temporal and frontal regions, respectively. Those in the barrel field are preferentially concentrated in the sides of barrels and the interbarrel septa. The configurations of the dendritic fascicles, particularly the midcortical bundles, may conform to the spatial configuration of investing axons of interneurons.