Anat Cell Biol.  2021 Sep;54(3):340-349. 10.5115/acb.21.016.

Mapping of folic acid in the children brainstem

• Duque-Díaz E
• Coveñas R

• KMID: 2521047
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.21.016

Abstract

Using highly specific antisera, the neuroanatomical distribution of folic acid (FA) and retinoic acid (RA) has been studied for the first time in the children brainstem. Neither immunoreactive structures containing RA nor immunoreactive fibers containing FA were found. FA-immunoreactive perikarya (fusiform, small/medium in size, one short dendrite) were only found in the pons in three regions: central gray, reticular formation, and locus coeruleus. The number of cell bodies decreased with age. In the first case studied (2 years), a moderate density of cell bodies was observed in the central gray and reticular formation, whereas a low density was found in the locus coeruleus. In the second case (6 years), a low density of these perikarya was observed in the central gray, reticular formation, and locus coeruleus. In the third case (7 years), a low density of FA-immunoreactive cell bodies was found in the central gray and reticular formation, whereas in the locus coeruleus no immunoreactive cell bodies were observed. The distribution of FA in the central nervous system of humans and monkeys is different and, in addition, in these species the vitamin was located in different parts of the nerve cells. The restricted distribution of FA suggests that the vitamin is involved in specific physiological mechanisms.

Keyword

Folic acid; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Retinoic acid; Vitamins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Distribution of folic acid (FA)-immunoreactive cell bodies in frontal planes of the human pons. Two (A), six (B), and seven years (C). Cell bodies are represented by closed triangles (moderate density) and closed squares (low density). ALS, anterolateral system; CeGy, central gray; CTT, central tegmental tract; DTTr, dorsal trigeminothalamic tract; LL, lateral lemniscus; LL/Nu, lateral lemniscus nucleus; LoCer, locus coeruleus; ML, medial lemniscus; MLF, medial longitudinal fasciculus; SCP, superior cerebellar peduncle; RetF, reticular formation; RuSp, rubrospinal tract; TecSp, tectospinal tract; TroNr, trochlear nerve, VTTr, ventral trigeminothalamic tract.

• 

  Fig. 2 Folic acid (FA) in the children pons. (A) Cell bodies containing FA in the central gray (CeGy), reticular formation (RetF), and locus coeruleus (LoCer) (2 years) (A) and 6 years (B). (C) Immunoreactive cell bodies in the CeGy (7 years). (D) Histological control (preabsorption of the anti-FA with an excess of synthetic FA). DTTr, dorsal trigeminothalamic tract; MLF, medial longitudinal fasciculus.

• 

  Fig. 3 Folic acid (FA)-immunoreacive cell bodies in the children pons central gray (CeGy). Two (A), six (C), and seven (E) years. (B, D, F) Higher magnifications of the regions delimited by rectangles in A, C, and E.

• 

  Fig. 4 Folic acid (FA)-immunoreactive perikarya in the children pons. (A) Locus coeruleus (LoCer) (2 years). (B) LoCer and central gray (CeGy) (6 years).

Reference

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