Differences in Cortical Serotonergic Innervation among Humans, Chimpanzees, and Macaque Monkeys: A Comparative Study

@article{citeulike:1926491, abstract = {In this study, we assess the possibility that the evolution of human intellectual capacities was supported by changes in the supply of serotonin to the frontal cortex. To this end, quantitative comparative analyses were performed among humans, chimpanzees, and macaques. Immunohistochemical methods were used to visualize serotonin transporter-immunoreactive (SERT-ir) axons within the cerebral cortex. Areas 9 and 32 were chosen for evaluation due to their roles in working memory and theory of mind, respectively. Primary motor cortex was also evaluated because it is not associated with higher cognitive functions. The findings revealed that humans do not display a quantitative increase in serotonin innervation. However, the results indicated region- and layer-specific differences among species in serotonergic innervation pattern. Compared with macaques, humans and chimpanzees together displayed a greater density of SERT-ir axons relative to neuron density in layers V/VI. This change was detected in cortical areas 9 and 32, but not in primary motor cortex. Further, morphological specializations, coils of axons, were observed in humans and chimpanzees that were absent in macaques. These features may represent a greater capacity for cortical plasticity exclusive to hominoids. Taken together, these results indicate a significant reorganization of cortical serotonergic transmission in humans and chimpanzees. 10.1093/cercor/bhm089}, author = {Raghanti, Mary A. and Stimpson, Cheryl D. and Marcinkiewicz, Jennifer L. and Erwin, Joseph M. and Hof, Patrick R. and Sherwood, Chet C. }, citeulike-article-id = {1926491}, doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhm089}, journal = {Cereb. Cortex}, keywords = {chimpanzees, comparative, cortex, human, macaques, nonhuman, pathway, serotonin}, month = {June}, pages = {bhm089+}, posted-at = {2008-01-02 21:56:51}, priority = {3}, title = {Differences in Cortical Serotonergic Innervation among Humans, Chimpanzees, and Macaque Monkeys: A Comparative Study}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhm089}, year = {2007} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1926491 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1926491 TI - Differences in Cortical Serotonergic Innervation among Humans, Chimpanzees, and Macaque Monkeys: A Comparative Study JF - Cereb. Cortex SP - bhm089 N2 - In this study, we assess the possibility that the evolution of human intellectual capacities was supported by changes in the supply of serotonin to the frontal cortex. To this end, quantitative comparative analyses were performed among humans, chimpanzees, and macaques. Immunohistochemical methods were used to visualize serotonin transporter-immunoreactive (SERT-ir) axons within the cerebral cortex. Areas 9 and 32 were chosen for evaluation due to their roles in working memory and theory of mind, respectively. Primary motor cortex was also evaluated because it is not associated with higher cognitive functions. The findings revealed that humans do not display a quantitative increase in serotonin innervation. However, the results indicated region- and layer-specific differences among species in serotonergic innervation pattern. Compared with macaques, humans and chimpanzees together displayed a greater density of SERT-ir axons relative to neuron density in layers V/VI. This change was detected in cortical areas 9 and 32, but not in primary motor cortex. Further, morphological specializations, coils of axons, were observed in humans and chimpanzees that were absent in macaques. These features may represent a greater capacity for cortical plasticity exclusive to hominoids. Taken together, these results indicate a significant reorganization of cortical serotonergic transmission in humans and chimpanzees. 10.1093/cercor/bhm089 KW - chimpanzees KW - comparative KW - cortex KW - human KW - macaques KW - nonhuman KW - pathway KW - serotonin AU - Raghanti, Mary AU - Stimpson, Cheryl AU - Marcinkiewicz, Jennifer AU - Erwin, Joseph AU - Hof, Patrick AU - Sherwood, Chet PY - 2007/06/22/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhm089 ER -