Abstract
Measurement of long-term functional and anatomical outcomes in the same animal is considered a powerful strategy for correlating structure with function. In a neonatal animal model of hypoxic–ischemic brain injury that is relevant to cerebral palsy, long-term functional deficits on the staircase test and long-term anatomical deficits in the absolute number of medium-spiny projection neurons in the caudate-putamen were reported in different animals due to logistical constraints. Here, we investigated if these functional and anatomical measures were correlated when measured in the same animals. The medium-spiny projection neurons were investigated because (1) they comprise the vast majority (>97%) of all neurons in the caudate-putamen and (2) motor deficits observed during staircase testing are likely to involve these striatal medium-spiny projection neurons through their connections. We found that long-term skilled forepaw capability on the staircase test was correlated with the absolute number of DARPP-32-positive medium-spiny projection neurons in the caudate-putamen. Specifically, deficits in skilled forepaw ability for the number of sugar pellets eaten and retrieved, and for the maximum staircase level reached, were significantly correlated with a lower absolute neuronal number. We also found that skilled forepaw ability on the staircase test was not correlated with the neuronal density (i.e., number per unit volume) of DARPP-32-positive medium-spiny projection neurons. Since neuronal density is an indirect measure of neuronal survival that is used in the literature, and absolute neuronal number is a direct measure, the results also highlight the scientific value of measuring absolute neuronal number. Anat Rec, 302:2040–2048, 2019.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2040-2048 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Anatomical Record |
Volume | 302 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- anatomy versus behavior
- fine motor skills
- stereology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Anatomy
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Histology