Associations between iron deposition in the brain and grey matter volumes in cognitively unimpaired adults

Abstract Background Sex-related differences in psychopathology are known phenomena, with externalizing and internalizing symptoms typically more common in boys and girls, respectively. However, the neural correlates of these sex-by-psychopathology interactions are underinvestigated, particularly in adolescence. Methods Participants were 14 years of age and part of the IMAGEN study, a large (N = 1526) community-based sample. To test for sex-by-psychopathology interactions in structural grey matter volume (GMV), we used whole-brain, voxel-wise neuroimaging analyses based on robust non-parametric methods. Psychopathological symptom data were derived from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results We found a sex-by-hyperactivity/inattention interaction in four brain clusters: right temporoparietal-opercular region (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = −0.24), bilateral anterior and mid-cingulum (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = −0.18), right cerebellum and fusiform (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = −0.20) and left frontal superior and middle gyri (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = −0.26). Higher symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention were associated with lower GMV in all four brain clusters in boys, and with higher GMV in the temporoparietal-opercular and cerebellar-fusiform clusters in girls. Conclusions Using a large, sex-balanced and community-based sample, our study lends support to the idea that externalizing symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention may be associated with different neural structures in male and female adolescents. The brain regions we report have been associated with a myriad of important cognitive functions, in particular, attention, cognitive and motor control, and timing, that are potentially relevant to understand the behavioural manifestations of hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. This study highlights the importance of considering sex in our efforts to uncover mechanisms underlying psychopathology during adolescence.

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XVI. Note on the minute structure of the grey matter of the convolutions of the brain of man, the sheep, cat, and dog

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1862.0147 ◽

1863 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 671-673

Keyword(s):

Grey Matter ◽

Nerve Cells ◽

Mammalian Brain ◽

New Process ◽

The Brain ◽

Thick Fibre

By a new process of investigation, I have succeeded in demonstrating the connexion between the nerve-cells and fibres in the grey matter of the convolutions and in other parts of the mammalian brain, and have followed individual fibres for a much greater distance than can be effected in sections prepared by other processes of investigation which I have tried. In many instances one thick fibre is continuous with one or other extremity of the “cell,” while from its opposite portion from three to six or eight thinner fibres diverge in a direction onwards and outwards. This arrangement is particularly distinct in the grey matter of the sheep’s brain.

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Pain sensitivity is inversely related to regional grey matter density in the brain

Pain ◽

10.1016/j.pain.2013.12.004 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 155 (3) ◽

pp. 566-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Nichole M. Emerson ◽

Fadel Zeidan ◽

Oleg V. Lobanov ◽

Morten S. Hadsel ◽

Katherine T. Martucci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pain Sensitivity ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Matter Density ◽

Grey Matter Density ◽

The Brain

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Spinal cord grey matter lesions in multiple sclerosis detected by post-mortem high field MR imaging

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458508096876 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 180-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

CP Gilmore ◽

JJG Geurts ◽

N Evangelou ◽

JCJ Bot ◽

RA van Schijndel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

White Matter ◽

Mr Imaging ◽

High Field ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Great Majority ◽

Proton Density ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Mr Images ◽

The Brain

Background Post-mortem studies demonstrate extensive grey matter demyelination in MS, both in the brain and in the spinal cord. However the clinical significance of these plaques is unclear, largely because they are grossly underestimated by MR imaging at conventional field strengths. Indeed post-mortem MR studies suggest the great majority of lesions in the cerebral cortex go undetected, even when performed at high field. Similar studies have not been performed using post-mortem spinal cord material. Aim To assess the sensitivity of high field post-mortem MRI for detecting grey matter lesions in the spinal cord in MS. Methods Autopsy material was obtained from 11 MS cases and 2 controls. Proton Density-weighted images of this formalin-fixed material were acquired at 4.7Tesla before the tissue was sectioned and stained for Myelin Basic Protein. Both the tissue sections and the MR images were scored for grey matter and white matter plaques, with the readers of the MR images being blinded to the histopathology results. Results Our results indicate that post-mortem imaging at 4.7Tesla is highly sensitive for cord lesions, detecting 87% of white matter lesions and 73% of grey matter lesions. The MR changes were highly specific for demyelination, with all lesions scored on MRI corresponding to areas of demyelination. Conclusion Our work suggests that spinal cord grey matter lesions may be detected on MRI more readily than GM lesions in the brain, making the cord a promising site to study the functional consequences of grey matter demyelination in MS.

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The localization of function in the brain

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1873.0032 ◽

1874 ◽

Vol 22 (148-155) ◽

pp. 228-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Keyword(s):

Experimental Investigation ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Corpus Striatum ◽

Lunatic Asylum ◽

Cerebral Hemispheres ◽

The West ◽

Exact Localization ◽

Medical Reports ◽

The Brain

The chief contents of this paper are the results of an experimental investigation tending to prove that there is a localization of function in special regions of the cerebral hemispheres. In a former paper published by the author in the ‘West Riding Lunatic Asylum Medical Reports,’ vol. iii. 1873, the results were given of experiments on rabbits, cats, and dogs, made specially for the purpose of testing the theory of Hughlings Jackson, that localized and unilateral epilepsies are caused by irritation or “discharging lesions” of the grey matter of the hemispheres in the region of the corpus striatum. Besides confirming Hughlings Jackson’s views, the author’s researches indicated an exact localization in the hemispheres of centres, or regions, for the carrying out of simple and complex muscular movements of a definite character, and described by him as of a purposive, or expressional, nature.

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A higher proportion of ermin-immunopositive oligodendrocytes in areas of remyelination

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0256155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0256155

Author(s):

Intakhar Ahmad ◽

Stig Wergeland ◽

Eystein Oveland ◽

Lars Bø

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

White Matter ◽

Corpus Callosum ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Early Stage ◽

Relative Proportion ◽

Normal Appearing White Matter ◽

The Brain

Incomplete remyelination is frequent in multiple sclerosis (MS)-lesions, but there is no established marker for recent remyelination. We investigated the role of the oligodendrocyte/myelin protein ermin in de- and remyelination in the cuprizone (CPZ) mouse model, and in MS. The density of ermin+ oligodendrocytes in the brain was significantly decreased after one week of CPZ exposure (p < 0.02). The relative proportion of ermin+ cells compared to cells positive for the late-stage oligodendrocyte marker Nogo-A increased at the onset of remyelination in the corpus callosum (p < 0.02). The density of ermin-positive cells increased in the corpus callosum during the CPZ-phase of extensive remyelination (p < 0.0001). In MS, the density of ermin+ cells was higher in remyelinated lesion areas compared to non-remyelinated areas both in white- (p < 0.0001) and grey matter (p < 0.0001) and compared to normal-appearing white matter (p < 0.001). Ermin immunopositive cells in MS-lesions were not immunopositive for the early-stage oligodendrocyte markers O4 and O1, but a subpopulation was immunopositive for Nogo-A. The data suggest a relatively higher proportion of ermin immunopositivity in oligodendrocytes compared to Nogo-A indicates recent or ongoing remyelination.

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Dissection of neuroinflammation in schizophrenia

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.730 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S274-S275

Author(s):

Fizah Muratib ◽

Yuya Mizuno ◽

Ines Carreira Figueiredo ◽

Oliver Howes ◽

Tiago Reis Marques

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Positive Association ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Regions Of Interest ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Similar Response ◽

Frequency Of Use ◽

The Brain

AimsSchizophrenia is notoriously becoming one of the world's most debilitating mental disorders, affecting 1 in 100 people. There is increasing evidence that neuroinflammation plays a part in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; microglial activity acting as a marker for neuroinflammatory reactions in the brain. Furthermore, cannabis is an illicit substance that also evokes a similar response in the neuroimmune activity. This project explores how cannabis exposure influences an elevation in neuroinflammatory responses through TSPO levels, and whether this information can help us determine if cannabis use and increased TSPO levels can be associated with a risk factor for developing psychosis.Method55 participants (36 males and 19 females) were recruited from the community by the IRIS (Inflammatory Reaction in Schizophrenia) team at the IoPPN, King's College London, from which 34 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 21 healthy controls took part in the study. The eligible participants underwent clinical assessments and PET scanning, from which cannabis use history and PET data were collected. Participant neuroinflammatory levels are represented by [18F]DPA-714 volume and different regions of grey matter in the brain were analysed through multivariate analyses, the confounding variables being age and TSPO genotype.ResultA statistically significant association is shown between participants who have had exposure to cannabis and participants who have not had any exposure in their lifetime. The differences across the prioritised brain regions of interest were robust, the association appearing more apparent and statistically significant in the total (p = .00) and temporal grey matter (p = .00) regions of the brain. This may suggest that cannabis exposure influences the [18F]DPA-714 VT in the significant regions of interest. However, a negative association is seen with current use, the quantity of use, and the frequency of use.ConclusionThe initial findings for cannabis exposure show us a positive association with increased TSPO levels, however, limitations must be taken into account. Although we cannot readily establish that elevated TSPO levels in cannabis users can presently act as a risk factor marker for developing psychosis from this particular study, we can utilise this data to continue our research in disclosing a new system to predict the occurrence of psychosis.

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Lissencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia in a goat

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/s0103-84782013001000020 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 43 (10) ◽

pp. 1858-1861 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

José Rômulo Soares dos Santos ◽

Antônio Flavio Medeiros Dantas ◽

Clarice Ricardo Macedo Pessoa ◽

Tatiane Rodrigues Silva ◽

Sara Vilar Dantas Simões ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Cerebellar Hypoplasia ◽

Infectious Origin ◽

Gross Lesions ◽

The Brain

A case of lissencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia was observed in a 30-day-old goat. The goat presented with sternal recumbence, absence of a menace response, intention tremors, ataxia, and nystagmus. The goat was euthanized and necropsied after having been hospitalised for eleven days. At necropsy, the surface of the brain was found to be smooth, the cerebral sulci and gyri were absent, and the cerebellum was reduced in size. Histologically, the grey matter and white matter were thicker and thinner than normal in cortices, respectively. The neurons were randomly arranged in the grey matter. In the cerebellum, the layers were disorganised, and cells were heterotopics. The histologic and gross lesions observed in this animal are characteristic of lissencephaly associated with cerebellar hypoplasia. The presence of a single goat affected suggests that the malformation was not of infectious origin and because lissencephaly is a malformation not previously described in goats, it is unlikely this case was inherited.

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