TITLE:
Pyramidal and Granule Cells Distribution through Hippocampal Fields: An Index for Sensory Information Processing
AUTHORS:
Abdoulaye Bâ
KEYWORDS:
Rat Hippocampus, Pyramidal and Granule Cells Distribution, Morphometric Measurements, Population Coding, Information Processing
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
6,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: This work aims at investigating the histology of
hippocampus formation as structural model of information processing. The study addressed
the question whether the pattern of cellular type distribution within
hippocampal fields could be used as support of information processing in the
hippocampus. Method: Pyramidal-shaped
neurons presenting both cytoplasm and nucleus outlined clearly were measured
systematically on brain slides, using a light microscope connected to a
microcomputer equipped with a scanner software for measuring particles. Morphological
types of cells were identified following class sizes and their distribution determined
through hippocampal fields. Results:
A battery of statistical tests: Sturges’ classification, class sizes distribution
around overall mean, Bartlett’s sphericity test, principal components analysis
(PCA) followed by correlations matrix analysis and ANOVA allowed two cellular
groups to be identified in the hippocampus: large and small pyramidal-shaped
cells. Conclusion: The results show
that sensory information processing in the hippocampus could be built on two
classes of pyramidal neurons that differed anatomically with probably different
physiological functions. The study suggests combination ensembles clustering
large and small pyramidal cells at different rates, as fundamental signaling
units of the hippocampus.