Talk:Neural - Pons Development

2009

Cerebellar haemorrhages and pons development in extremely low birth weight infants

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2009 Jun 1;1:537-41.

Fumagalli M, Ramenghi LA, Righini A, Groppo M, Bassi L, De Carli A, Parazzini C, Triulzi F, Mosca F.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, University of Milan, Italy. Abstract Neuropathological and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies showed a high frequency of posterior fossa abnormalities in preterms. To assess whether cerebellar haemorrhages (CH) diagnosed with ultrasound and/or MRI affect pons development in ELBW infants. The anteroposterior diameter of the pons was measured manually on the midline sagittal T1 MR image in 75 ELBW babies consecutively scanned at term postmenstrual age. Subjects with CH were identified and compared to babies with no posterior fossa bleeding. Nine ELBW infants with CH (CH-Group: median gestational age -GA- 26 wks, range 23-27; birth weight -BW- 680 g, 425-980) were compared with 66 babies with normal cerebellum (Control-Group: GA 28 wks, 23-33; BW 815 g, 430-1000). The two groups were comparable for BW (p=0.088) while GA was significantly shorter in CH babies (p=0.005). The pontine diameter was significantly lower in CH-Group compared to Control-Group (12.8 +/- 2.2 vs 14.8 +/- 1.2 mm; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cerebellar haemorrhages seem to affect the development of the pons in ELBW with the youngest GA.

PMID: 19482668

2007

Development of the pons in human fetuses

Congenit Anom (Kyoto). 2007 Jun;47(2):63-7.

Hatta T, Satow F, Hatta J, Hashimoto R, Udagawa J, Matsumoto A, Otani H.

Department of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, Japan. thatta@kanazawa-med.ac.jp Abstract Morphometric and histological studies of the pons were performed by light microscopy in 28 cases of externally normal human fetuses ranging from 90 to 246 mm in crown-rump length (CRL) and from 13 to 28 weeks of gestation. The brainstems of fetuses were embedded in celloidin or paraffin, and transverse sections were prepared. The pons was divided into two regions at the most ventral margin of the medial lemniscus at the level of the motor trigeminal nucleus. The relationships between the total dorsoventral length, ventral length, and dorsal length of the pons versus CRL and gestational ages were calculated, and empiric formulas were fitted. It was found that the ventral portion increased in size more rapidly than the dorsal portion. The proportion of the ventral portion in the total dorsoventral length was constitutively higher than that of the dorsal portion in the present range of CRL. In the pontine nuclei, from 235 mm in the CRL, some large cells with rich cytoplasm, pale nuclei, and a distinct nucleolus appeared on the dorsal side of the pyramidal tract. According to Weigert stained preparations, the first myelinated fibers in each motor root of the trigeminal, abducent, and facial nerves were recognized at 130-140 mm in CRL and the medial lemniscus at 230-235 mm.

PMID: 17504389

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17504389

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1741-4520.2007.00145.x/abstract

2004

Development of the human fetal pons: in utero ultrasonographic study

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Oct;24(5):506-10.

Achiron R, Kivilevitch Z, Lipitz S, Gamzu R, Almog B, Zalel Y.

Ultrasound Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Israel. rachiron@post.tau.ac.il

Abstract OBJECTIVES: To examine the ultrasonographic feasibility of imaging the fetal pons and to construct a reference chart for its normal development during gestation.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, prospective study on 293 healthy fetuses of low-risk pregnancies between 19 and 34 weeks was performed. The transfontanel approach, via the abdominal or vaginal routes, was used to evaluate the fetal metencephalon (pons and cerebellum). The anteroposterior diameter of the fetal pons was measured in a mid-sagittal plane. The longitudinal diameter of the cerebellar vermis was measured at the same plane and the vermis-pons ratio (VPR) was established.

RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four fetuses were in vertex position. In 140 (97.2%) satisfactory visualization and measurements of the pons and cerebellar vermis were obtained. One hundred and forty-nine fetuses were breech presentations and measurements were successfully performed in 147 (98.6%). The pons anteroposterior and vermis longitudinal diameters showed a linear correlation with gestational age (GA) (r = 0.95 for both measurements; P < 0.001). The mean VPR was 1.5 (+/-0.1 SD) and did not change in the gestational interval that was considered.

CONCLUSION: By using the transfontanel approach, evaluation of the fetal pons is feasible via the mid-sagittal plane. The nomograms developed and the ratio to fetal vermis provides reference data that may be helpful when evaluating anomalies of the brainstem.

PMID: 15459939 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15459939