Hippocampus

All layers, cells, regions of hippocampus.

1. Kursk State Medical University Department of Histology , Embryology , Cytology HIPPOCAMPUS Student : A.H . Borzacchini Supervisor: T.A . Ishunina Kursk-2012

2. Hippocampus Is a neural structure in the medial temporal lobe of the brain that has a distinctive , curved shape which resembles a shape of a seahorse . It belongs to the limbic system and plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short- therm memory to long- therm memory and spatial navigation. Humans and other mammals have two hippocampi, one in each side of the brain.

3. Hippocampal Cells and Layers The hippocampus is composed of multiple subfields : Cornu Ammonis (CA) CA1 CA2 CA3 CA4 Dentate Gyrus Fascia Dentata Hilus ( region CA4)

4. Nissl -stained coronal section of the brain of a monkey , showing hippocampus ( circled).

5. Hippocampus Regions

6. Drawing of Hippocampus by Camilo Golgi Subregions of the hippocampus exhibit histologial differences .

7. CA regions and their layers 1) Alveus Deepest layer Contains axons from pyramidal layer , passing toward to the fornix (fimbria) One of the major outputs of the hippocampus 2) Stratum Oriens Next superficial layer Contains cell bodies of inhibitory basket cells and horizontal trilaminar cells ( their axons innervate 3 layers : oriens , pyramidal and radiatum ) Also contains basal dendrites of pyramidal neurons , where they receive input from others pyramidal cells , septal fibers and commissural fibers from the colateral hippocampus ( especially in CA3 and CA2)

8. 3) Stratum Pyramidale One of the more visible strata to the naked eye Contains the cell bodies of the pyramidal neurons , which are the principal excitatory neurons of the hippocampus In CA3 region , this stratum contains synapses from the mossy fibers , cell bodies of many interneurons , including axo-axonic cells , bistratified cells , and radial trilaminar cells 4) Stratum Lucidum Only found in CA3 region One of the thinnest strata of hippocampus Contains the mossy fibers from the dentate gyrus and granule cells 5) Stratum Radiatum Contains septal and commissural fibers , Schaffer collateral fibers ( are an integral part of memory formation and the emotional network and they have the projection forward from CA3 to CA1) Some interneurons can be found here , basket cells , bistratified cells , and radial trilaminar cells

9. 6) Stratum Lacunosum Thin stratum that is often grouped togehter wiht stratum moleculare ( stratum lacunosum-moleculare ) Contains Schaffer colateral fibers and perforant path fibers from the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex 7) Stratum Moleculare Most superficial layer Perforant path fibers form synapses onto the distal, apical dendrites of pyramidal cells Hippocampal sulcus Cell-free region that separates the CA1 region from the dentate gyrus The sulcus is often used as a fixed reference point for recording electroencephalography (EEG), bacause the phase of recorded theta rhythm varies systematically through the strata .

10. CA Regions Region CA4 Also called Hilus ( when considered part of the dentate gyrus ) Contains mossy cells – receive inputs from granule cells located nearby in the dentate gyrus in the form of mossy fibers Receive a small number of connections from pyramidal cells located in CA3, and in turn , project back into the dentate gyrus at distant septotemporal levels .

11. Region CA4 Human hippocampus shows: - granular neuron (blue, diamond ) - protoplasmic astrocyte ( brown , asteristic ) SG= stratum granulosum Scale E= 20µm

12. Region CA4 SP= stratum pyramidale SM= stratum moleculare SG= stratum granulosum Scale A= 500µm

13. Region CA3 Receives input along the mossy fibers from granule cells in the DG and from projections cells in entorhinal cortex along the perforant path Pyramidal cells ( approximately 200,000 in each hemisphere in rats ) send some axons back to the hilus , but the majority project to regions CA2 and CA1 (a pathway called the Schaffer collaterals ) Divided into 3 divisions : CA3a – part of the cell band which is most distal from the DG and closest to CA1 CA3b – middle part of the band nearest to the fornix connection CA3c- most proximal to the DG, inserting into hilus Is considered to be the “ pacemaker ” of the hippocampus , much of the synchronous bursing activity associated with interictaleptiform activity apperars to be generated , the excitatory collateral interconnectivity is responsible for this Has pyramidal axon collateralsramifying extensively with local region and making excitatory contacts with neighbors CA3 has been implicated in a number of working theories on memory and learning hippocampal processes; sharp EEG waves also implicated in memory consolidation .

14. Region CA2 Small region located between CA1 and CA3 Receive perforant path input entorhinal cortex , but do not receive mossy fiber connections from DG Pyramidal cells are more similar to those of CA3 than those of CA1, so it is grouped as a separate region Has a high resistance to epileptic damage Region CA1 First region that yields a significant output pathway Sends significant output foward to the subiculum Like CA3, receives input from superficial entorhinal cortex along perforant pathway , but unlike CA3, contains vey few recurrent connections (in rats , CA1 contains approximately 250,000 pyramidal cells ) Subiculum (“ support ”) : most inferior component of the hippocampal fomation , lies between the entorhinal cortex and the CA1 region.

15. Basic Circuit of Hippocampus

16. Dentate Gyrus Is composed of a similar series of strata : Polymorphic layer : - most superficial - contains many interneurons , and the axons of the dentate granules cells pass through this stratum on the way to CA3. Stratum Granulosum : - contains the cell bodies of the dentate granule cells Stratum Moleculare , inner 1/3 : - is where both commissural fibers from the contralateral DG run and form synapses as well as where the inputs from the medial septum terminate , both on the proximal dendrites of the granule cells . Stratum M oleculare , external 2/3 : - deepest strata - perforant path fibers run through , making excitatory synapses onto the distal apical dendrites of the granile cells .

17. Fascia Dentata : Is the earliest stage of the hippocampal circuit Its primary input is the perforant path from the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex Its principal neurons are tiny granule cells which give rise to unmyelinated axons called mossy fibers which project to the hilus and CA3. Receives feedback connections from mossy cells in the hilus at distant levels in the septal and temporal directions The Fascia Denata and the Hilus together make up the Dentate Gyrus , as with all regions of the hippocampus , the DG also receive GABAergic and cholinergic input from the medial septum and the diagonal band of Broca.

18. Schematic showing regions of the hippocampus proper in relation to other structures.

19. Ultramicroscopy : 3-D visualization of neuronal networks in the mouse brain Pyramidal cell dendritic trees of population of CA1 neurons in isolated hippocampi

20. “ Brainbow ” transgenic mouse hippocampus (40x) 2008 Small World Competition – 18th place Photographer Dr. Tamily Weissman , Department of molecular and cellular Biology , Harvard University Technique : confocal

21. References “Opera Omnia ”, volume II – Camillo Golgi Histology of the Central Nervous System – Michael Hortsch , Ph.D ( University of Michigan) Functional Histology 2e – Prof. Jeffrey Kerr Histology -World – Floris G. Wouterlood , Ph.D Department of Bioelectronics , Institute of Solid State Electronics , TU Vienna , Austria - H.U. Dodt , N. J ährling , S. Saghafi , K. Becker " Ch 3. Hippocampal Neuroanatomy “ in The Hippocampus Book - Andersen P, Morris R, Amaral D, Bliss T, O'Keefe J. (Oxford University )

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