DISTRIBUTION OF CATECHOLAMINE-CONTAINING NEURONS IN THE HUMAN FETAL BRAIN STEM / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

The distribution and morphological characteristics of catecholamine(CA)-containing neurons in the human brain stem of 7-9-month-old fetuses were studied by using Faglu histofluorescence method. The distribution of the main CA groups is consistent with the data provided by the literature concerning human infant and adult except for the presence of numerous small premature-looking fluorescent cells in the fetal area postrema which is lacking in the human infant and adult. As compared with most studies of other animals, the CA neurons of the dorsocaudal extension of the locus coeruleus in human appear to be more extensive and do not close to the ependyma of the fourth ventricle. Moreover, the CA neuronal population in human midbrain become more hypertrophic and appear to be more complexly organized in comparison with those in animals.