Tandem chromosome fusions in karyotypic evolution of Muntiacus: evidence from M. feae and M. gongshanensis

The muntjacs (Muntiacus, Cervidae) are famous for their rapid and radical karyotypic diversification via repeated tandem chromosome fusions, constituting a paradigm for the studies of karyotypic evolution. Of the five muntjac species with defined karyotypes, three species (i.e. Muntiacus reevesi, 2n = 46; M. m. vaginalis, 2n = 6/7; and M. crinifrons, 2n = 8/9) have so far been investigated by a combined approach of comparative chromosome banding, chromosome painting and BAC mapping. The results demonstrated that extensive centromere–telomere fusions and a few centric fusions are the chromosomal mechanisms underlying the karyotypic evolution of muntjacs. Here we have applied the same approach to two additional muntjac species with less well-characterized karyotypes, M. feae (2n = 14♂) and M. gongshanensis (2n = 8♀). High-resolution G-banded karyotypes for M. feae and M. gongshanensis are provided. The integrated analysis of hybridization results led to the establishment of a high-resolution comparative map between M. reevesi, M. feae, and M. gongshanensis, proving that all tandem fusions underpinning the karyotypic evolution of these two muntjac species are also centromere–telomere fusions. Furthermore, the results have improved our understanding of the karyotypic relationships of extant muntjac species and provided compelling cytogenetic evidence that supports the view that M. crinifrons, M. feae, and M. gongshanensis should each be treated as a distinct species.     

Functional mapping of color processing by magnetic resonance imaging of responses to selective P- and M-pathway stimulation

Magnetic resonance imaging sensitized to activity-related changes in cerebral blood oxygenation was performed to map responses to selective stimulation of the parvo- and magnocellular visual pathways in calcarine and adjacent ventral occipital cortex of human subjects. In a repetitive stimulation protocol isoluminant chromatic or isochromatic luminance modulation was alternated with steady light of the same mean chromaticity and luminance as a reference condition. While no significant effects were observed for diffuse luminance modulation, two consistent cortical foci responded to isoluminant chromatic stimulation. A strong response was obtained in calcarine cortex at both 2 and 10 Hz, and even for selective S-cone stimulation. A second weaker colorsensitive response was seen bilaterally in the collateral sulcus. Thus, the data not only confirm color-sensitive activation in the collateral sulcus elicited in previous studies by selective cognitive tasks, but additionally demonstrate color-sensitive activation in primary visual cortex. With stimuli defined according to electrophysiological response properties of early visual processing stages, this study complements phenomenological or cognitive approaches in functional mapping of the human visual system.     

Extensive monosynaptic inhibition of ventral respiratory group neurons by augmenting neurons in the Bötzinger complex in the cat

Summary Axonal projections and synaptic connectivity of expiratory B?tzinger neurons with an augmenting firing pattern (Bot-Aug neurons) to neurons in the ipsilateral ventral respiratory group (VRG) were studied in anaesthetized cats. Antidromic mapping revealed extensive axonal arborizations of Bot-Aug neurons (24 of 45) to the rostral or caudal VRG, with some having arbors in both regions. Of 234 pairs of neurons studied with intracellular recording and spike-triggered averaging, monosynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were evoked in 49/221 VRG neurons by 38/98 Bot-Aug neurons. The highest incidence of monosynaptic inhibition was found in inspiratory bulbospinal neurons (10 of 23 tested). Evidence was also found for monosynaptic inhibition, by a separate group of Bot-Aug neurons, of expiratory bulbospinal neurons (12/58), while excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were identified in another two of these neurons. In addition, monosynaptic IPSPs were recorded from 13 of 53 identified laryngeal motoneurons, and from 14 of 100 respiratory propriobulbar neurons. Presumptive disynaptic IPSPs were recorded from 11 of the 221 VRG neurons. We conclude that Bot-Aug neurons exert widespread inhibition on all major neuron categories in the ipsilateral VRG, and should be regarded as an important element in shaping the spatiotemporal output pattern of both respiratory motoneurons and premotor neurons.     

Brain mapping analysis in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Summary Topographical analysis of cerebral electrical activity was performed in 44 patients with hepatic encephalopathy. These patients were classified in 5 groups according to clinical criteria. Eight healthy subjects were used as a control group. All were studied in an awake, eyes closed, condition and some [Control Group (CG), Group 0 (G0), Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2)] also in an awake, eyes open, condition. The awake, eyes closed, maps showed marked differences in the power spectral density (PSD) of the different bands, when comparing normal subjects with patients with several degrees of hepatic encephalopathy. These differences were related to the degree of clinical involvement, mainly in the alpha and delta PSD bands. The combination of a decreased alpha PSD, increased delta PSD, and decreased mean dominant frequency (MDF) allowed a clear discrimination between the different clinical groups. The differences observed between awake, eyes closed, and awake, eyes open, conditions were especially helpful to discriminate between CG subjects and G0, G1 and G2 patients.     

High risk for unbalanced segregation of some reciprocal translocations: A large pedigree containing distal 4q trisomy from t(4;7)(q28;p22)

We report on a familial t(4;7)(q28;p22) with 2:2 adjacent‐1 unbalanced segregation producing duplication of 4q28→qter in multiple offspring. Within the large four‐generation pedigree, a carrier had a reproductive outcome that was approximately equal for 1) the balanced translocation, 2) normal chromosomes, and 3) viable 4q trisomy or pregnancy loss. The three individuals with chromosomal confirmation of trisomy 4q28→qter (comprising approximately 1.8% of the haploid autosomal length) had similar mental and developmental retardation, hypotonia, restricted speech, seizures, and facial anomalies but no cardiac, renal, or skeletal anomalies. It is suggested that these latter severe malformations, associated with the classic 4q2 to 3 group of anomalies, were from an imbalance outside 4q28→qter and were not necessarily related to the relatively large size of the trisomic segment. Multiple different chromosomes are reported to be rearranged with 4q in the production of distal 4q trisomy. The incidence of 4q rearrangement remains unexplained, but once it is present in a family, viability of a large trisomy in 4q seems to explain the number of affected individuals reported. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Consequences of large interindividual variability for human brain atlases: converging macroscopical imaging and microscopical neuroanatomy

In human brain imaging studies, it is common practice to use the Talairach stereotaxic reference system for signifying the convergence of brain function and structure. In nearly all neuroimaging reports, the studied cortical areas are specified further with a Brodmann Area (BA) number. This specification is based upon macroscopic extrapolation from Brodmann’s projection maps into the Talairach atlas rather than upon a real microscopic cytoarchitectonic study. In this review we argue that such a specification of Brodmann area(s) via the Talairach atlas is not appropriate. Cytoarchitectonic studies reviewed in this paper show large interindividual differences in 3-D location of primary sensory cortical areas (visual cortex) as well as heteromodal associational areas (prefrontal cortical areas), even after correction for differences in brain size and shape. Thus, the simple use of Brodmann cortical areas derived from the Talairach atlas can lead to erroneous results in the specification of pertinent BA. This in turn can further lead to wrong hypotheses on brain system(s) involved in normal functions or in specific brain disorders. In addition, we will briefly discuss the different ‘Brodmann’ nomenclatures which are in use for the cerebral cortex.     

Refined mapping of eight cosmid markers on human chromosome 22

Summary Eight cosmid clones were regionally assigned to small subregions of chromosome 22 by hybridization with a total of 22 somatic cell hybrids. One cosmid was localized to the proximal part of 22q which contained the region commonly deleted in the DiGeorge syndrome. Seven cosmids showing restriction fragment length polymorphisms were localized to the telomeric region distal to the MB locus, which was reported to be frequently deleted in sporadic meningioma. These cosmids, when finely mapped and ordered, are considered useful for the identification of genetic alterations on this chromosome arm.     

Chromosome mapping ofSoa,a gene influencing gustatory sensitivity to sucrose octaacetate in mice

Strain distribution patterns among recombinant inbred strains suggested that a locus influencing taste sensitivity to sucrose octaacetate was on chromosome 6. A location forSoa was established by linkage analysis of behavioral and electrophoretic data from outbred and congenic strains and from test-cross progeny. Haplotyping of 41 outbred CFW-Cr animals with a cDNA probe showed perfect cosegregation ofSoa andPrp, a gene for salivary proline-rich proteins. Five of twelve B6. SW-Soa ^a strains were found to retainLdr-1, lactate dehydrogenase regulator-1, on chromosome 6 as an allelic passenger from the SWR/J donor strain (source of theSoa ^a Taster allele). Centimorgan distance was estimated using the ABP/Le linkage-testing strain (non-Taster,Soa ^b) and the SWR/J strain (Taster,Soa ^a) in a testcross breeding system. The data are consistent with a position for theSoa locus on mouse chromosome 6, 62 cM from the centromere.This research was supported in part by Grants DC00150 (G. W.) and DE003658 (E.A.A.). This paper is based on a thesis submitted to the Florida State University by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Sciences degree.     

Multimodal architectonic mapping of human superior temporal gyrus

Although it is generally accepted that human superior temporal gyrus is activated by a huge variety of auditory and linguistic tasks, little is known about the exact positions and extents of cortical areas that are located on the lateral convexity of the gyrus (e.g., Brodmann’s area 22). Such information, however, is relevant for a rigorous testing of structural-functional relationships in both normal volunteers and patients suffering from disorders of auditory and language perception. The present combined cytoarchitectonic and receptorarchitectonic study identifies a distinct area (Te3) in the lateral bulge of the superior temporal gyrus by using an algorithm-based approach for the detection of cortical borders. Our mapping data show that, in contrast to Brodmann’s area (BA) 22, only small portions of Te3 reach the dorsal and ventral banks of the gyrus. Therefore, we labelled the newly defined area as “Te3” and not as “BA 22”. The cytoarchitectonically defined borders of Te3 coincide with abrupt changes in the receptorarchitecture of several classical neurotransmitters, suggesting that Te3 represents a functionally relevant area of the human superior temporal gyrus. Since position and extent of area Te3 varied considerably between subjects, probability maps were created that show for each voxel of the standard references space, the frequency with which Te3 was present in it. These maps, in combination with previously published maps of the primary auditory cortex, can directly be compared with functional imaging data, and may open new perspectives for the analysis of structural-functional correlations in the human auditory and language systems.     

基于fMRI加权约束的FOCUSS迭代脑电源定位方法及其初步应用

脑电(Electroencephalography, EEG)和功能磁共振(Functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI)技术的结合,可以实现两者优势的互补,获得更加合理的源定位结果.本文报道的是一种将fMRI先验信息结合到脑电源定位中的新方法.在该方法中,先利用SPM方法计算获得fMRI的统计映射参数,然后将基于计算获得的统计参数构造的权矩阵结合到FOCUSS的迭代过程中,对脑电的反演提供具有fMRI先验空间位置信息的约束,提高脑电的源空间定位精度,从而获得更加合理的定位结果.通过对一形状知觉实验fMRI和脑电数据的结合定位分析,结果初步证实了改进方法能获得和生理更加一致的结果.