Related Experiment Videos
[Development of synaptic contacts in the human brain during the early stages of embryogenesis]
Insights
Early human brain development reveals puncta adhaerentia and transitional synapse structures by 7-8 weeks. By 9-11 weeks, more axon-neuroblast contacts and mature synapse-like structures emerge.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Context:
- Early human embryonic development (7-11 weeks gestation).
- Investigating the initial formation of neural connections in the developing human brain.
Purpose:
- To elucidate the ultrastructural characteristics of forming synaptical contacts during early human brain development.
- To identify transitional stages in synapse formation.
Summary:
- During 7-8 weeks of embryogenesis, the human brain exhibits puncta adhaerentia and transitional synapse structures, with more axon-neuroblast contacts than axon-soma contacts.
- By 9-11 weeks, the developing brain shows increased contacts between axons and neuroblasts, alongside the emergence of structures resembling mature synapses.
Impact:
- Provides foundational insights into the timeline and ultrastructure of synaptogenesis in the human brain.
- Establishes key developmental milestones for neural connectivity.
Abstract:
The author studied the ultrastructure of forming synaptical contacts in the human brain at the early stages of development (7--8 and 9--11 week embryos). It was established that during the 7--8th week of the embryo ontogenesis the brain has already contacts of the puncta adhaerentia type and structures which by several signs can referred to transitory stages in the formation of synapses. During this period of development contacts between the axons of neuroblasts were encountered more frequently that those between the axons and bodies of nervous cells. During the 9--11th weeks of embryogenesis the human brain acquires more contacts between both the axons and the neuroblasts. At this stage there is a first appearance of synaptical structures, similar to functionally and morphologically mature synapses.