Abstract
The advent of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in addition to cadaveric brain dissection allowed a comprehensive description of an adult human brain. Nonetheless, the knowledge of the development of the internal architecture of the brain is mostly incomplete. Our study aimed to provide a description of the anatomical variations of the major associational bundles, among fetal and early post-natal periods. Seventeen formalin-fixed fetal human brains were enrolled for sulci analysis, and 13 specimens were dissected under the operating microscope, using Klingler’s technique. Although fronto-temporal connections could be observed in all stages of development, a distinction between the uncinate fascicle, and the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle was clear starting from the early preterm period (25–35 post-conceptional week). Similarly, we were consistently able to isolate the periatrial white matter that forms the sagittal stratum (SS), with no clear distinction among SS layers. Arcuate fascicle and superior longitudinal fascicle were isolated only at the late stage of development without a reliable description of their entire course. The results of our study demonstrated that, although white matter is mostly unmyelinated among fetal human brains, cadaveric dissection can be performed with consistent results. Furthermore, the stepwise development of the associational fiber tracts strengthens the hypothesis that anatomy and function run in parallel, and higher is the cognitive functions subserved by an anatomical structure, later the development of the fascicle. Further histological–anatomical–DWI investigations are required to appraise and explore this topic.
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The authors would like to thank Prof. Beth De Felici for English revision, and Andrea Chillà for logistic and technical support during each step of the research.
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DTDC, MC, VN, ET, and PP contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by DTDC, MEF, BF, FQ, AF, and LR. Data analysis and interpretation was performed by DTDC, PC, and GD. DTDC wrote the draft of the manuscript. All authors critically reviewed, commented, and approved the final manuscript.
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Di Carlo, D.T., Filice, M.E., Fava, A. et al. Development of associational fiber tracts in fetal human brain: a cadaveric laboratory investigation. Brain Struct Funct 228, 2007–2015 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-023-02701-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-023-02701-3