A neuronal aging pattern unique to humans and common chimpanzees.

Lipofuscin pigment accumulation is among the most prominent markers of cellular aging in postmitotic cells. The formation of lipofuscin is related to oxidative enzymatic activity and free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. In various mammals such as rat, dog, macaque as well as in cheirogaleid primates, most of the large neurons, such as cerebellar Purkinje cells and neocortical pyramidal cells, show heavy lipofuscin accumulation in adulthood. In contrast, a well-known yet poorly studied feature of the aging human brain is that although lipofuscin accumulation is most marked in large neurons of the cerebral cortex, the large neurons of the cerebellar cortex-the Purkinje cells-appear to remain free of lipofuscin accumulation. It is however, not known whether this characteristic of human Purkinje cells is shared with other primates or other mammals. This study reports results from histological observation of Purkinje cells in humans, non-human primates, and other mammals. Procedures include histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and fluorescence microscopy. Abundant lipofuscin deposition was observed in Purkinje cells of all the species we examined except Homo sapiens (including Alzheimer's disease cases) and Pan troglodytes. In contrast, lipofuscin deposition was observed in neurons of the dentate nucleus. Our findings suggest that when compared with other primates, Purkinje cells in chimpanzees and humans might share a common aging pattern that involves mechanisms for neuroprotection. This observation is important when considering animal models of aging.

Distinct types of lipofuscin pigment in the hippocampus and cerebellum of aged cheirogaleid primates.

The formation of autofluorescent lipopigment or lipofuscin is a highly consistent and reliable cytological change that correlates with cellular aging in postmitotic cells. One causal factor of lipofuscinogenesis involves free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. In mammals, dentate gyrus neurons and Purkinje cells are usually affected widely. In this study, we investigated the ultrastructure of lipofuscin deposits in large neurons of the dentate gyrus and in Purkinje cells of aged fat-tailed dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus medius Geoffroy, 1812) with electron and confocal microscopy and compared it with previous observations in other species. Cheirogaleid primates such as mouse and dwarf lemurs are archaic primates that provide interesting nonhuman models of aging. Our study revealed region-specific as well as species-specific characteristics of lipofuscin ultrastructure. This suggests differences in cellular metabolism and/or in organelles involved in lipofuscin production in cerebellar Purkinje cells and in hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons.

Asymmetries of the parietal operculum in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in relation to handedness for tool use.

A left larger than right planum temporale (PT) is a neuroanatomical asymmetry common to both humans and chimpanzees. A similar asymmetry was observed in the human parietal operculum (PO), and the convergence of PT and PO asymmetries is strongly associated with right-handedness. Here, we assessed whether this combination also exists in common chimpanzees. Magnetic resonance scans were obtained in 83 captive subjects. PT was quantified following procedures previously employed and PO was defined as the maximal linear distance between the end point of the sylvian fissure and the central sulcus. Handedness was assessed using 2 tasks that were designed to simulate termite fishing of wild chimpanzees and to elicit bimanual coordination without tool use. Chimpanzees showed population-level leftward asymmetries for both PT and PO. As in humans, these leftward asymmetries were not correlated. Handedness for tool use but not for nontool use motor actions mediated the expression of asymmetries in PT and PO, with right-handed apes showing more pronounced leftward asymmetries. Consistent PT and PO asymmetry combinations were observed in chimpanzees. The proportions of individuals showing these combinations were comparable in humans and chimpanzees; however, interaction between handedness and patterns of combined PO and PT asymmetries differed between the 2 species.

Evolution of specialized pyramidal neurons in primate visual and motor cortex.

The neocortex of primates contains several distinct neuron subtypes. Among these, Betz cells of primary motor cortex and Meynert cells of primary visual cortex are of particular interest for their potential role in specialized sensorimotor adaptations of primates. Betz cells are involved in setting muscle tone prior to fine motor output and Meynert cells participate in the processing of visual motion. We measured the soma volumes of Betz cells, Meynert cells, and adjacent infragranular pyramidal neurons in 23 species of primate and two species of non-primate mammal (Tupaia glis and Pteropus poliocephalus) using unbiased stereological techniques to examine their allometric scaling relationships and socioecological correlations. Results show that Betz somata become proportionally larger with increases in body weight, brain weight, and encephalization whereas Meynert somata remain a constant proportion larger than other visual pyramidal cells. Phylogenetic variance in the volumetric scaling of these neuronal subtypes might be related to species-specific adaptations. Enlargement of Meynert cells in terrestrial anthropoids living in open habitats, for example, might serve as an anatomical substrate for predator detection. Modification of the connectional and physiological properties of these neurons could constitute an important evolutionary mode for species-specific adaptation.