Development and Malformations of the Human Cerebral Cortex

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2020-2021

Course director

Number of hours/semester

lectures: 12 hours

practices: 0 hours

seminars: 0 hours

total of: 12 hours

Subject data

  • Code of subject: OXF-EAF-h-T
  • 1 kredit
  • General Medicine
  • Optional modul
  • autumn
Prerequisites:

ODA-NEA-T completed

Course headcount limitations

min. 3 – max. 25

Topic

Pre- and postnatal human cortical development is an essential event of the development of central nervous system, which is not discussed in details in embryology. The growing information about cortical development available nowadays gives reason for its review in the medical curriculum. Disturbances of cortical development e.g. altered neuronal migration are in the background of several diseases of the pediatrics, neurology and psychiatry. We discuss in details the normal human pre- and postnatal cortical development, the neuronal migration and its alterations as the most common cause of developmental malformations of the nervous system. Students are going to hear about the molecular, genetical and pathological background of these diseases, extending the knowledge that is given by pathology and providing basis for the future clinical subjects. Disruption of cortical development after premature birth and in human trisomies (Down, Edwards, Patau syndrome) will also be introduced.

Lectures

  • 1. Histological structure and function of neocortex and archicortex. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 2. Phases of the human cortical development. Structure of the developing cortex. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 3. Places of cell proliferation. Proliferation of pyramidal cells, interneurons and glial cells. Neurogenesis after birth. - Dr. Seress László Antal
  • 4. Forms of neuronal migration. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 5. Factors guiding neuronal migration. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 6. Types of neurons and synapses. Neuronal maturation and differentiation. - Dr. Seress László Antal
  • 7. Test. Myelin formation in the cortex. - Dr. Seress László Antal
  • 8. Postnatal cell proliferation and differentiation in prematurely born infants. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 9. Consequences of failures of neuronal proliferation and migration. Lyssencephaly. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 10. Cortical developmental malformations in polymicrogyria, epilepsy, schizophrenia. - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 11. Cortical developmental malformations in trisomies. (Down's, Edwards', Patau's syndromes). - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella
  • 12. Exam - Dr. Rimayné Dr. Ábrahám Hajnalka Gabriella

Practices

Seminars

Reading material

Obligatory literature

Literature developed by the Department

Notes

Recommended literature

Kandel, Schwartz and Jessel: "Principles of Neural Sciences", chapters dealing with the development of the cortex. The purchase of the book is not needed, we provide the copy of the relevant chapters, or relevant articles.

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

Maximum of 25 % absence allowed

Mid-term exams

Tests on week 6 and 12.

Making up for missed classes

There is no possibility for making up of missed lectures.

Exam topics/questions

Questions of the test are based on these themes.
1. Structure of neocortex and archicortex.
2. Differences in the function of neocortex and archicortex.
3. Phases of the human cortical development.
4. Histological structure of the developing cortex.
5. Germinal matrices.
6. Methods used to detect cell proliferation.
7. Proliferation of pyramidal cells, interneurons and glial cells.
8. Neurogenesis after birth in the human brain.
9. Forms of neuronal migration during cortical development.
10. Factors guiding neuronal migration.
11. Differentiation, maturation of neurons. Formation of synapses.
12. Postnatal cell proliferation.
13. Cortical alterations in prematurely born infants.
14. Myelin formation in the developing human cortex.
15. Consequences of failures of neuronal proliferation and migration. Lyssencephaly, polymicrogyria, epilepsy, schizofrenia etc.
16. Cortical developmental malformations in trisomies. (Down's, Edwards', Patau's syndromes).

Examiners

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars