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NEUROLOGY 2006;67:1818-1822
© 2006 American Academy of Neurology

Abnormal orbitofrontal development due to prematurity

M. Giménez, MSc, C. Junqué, PhD, P. Vendrell, PhD, A. Narberhaus, MSc, N. Bargalló, MD, PhD, F. Botet, MD, PhD and J. M. Mercader, MD, PhD

From the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona (M.G., C.J., P.V., A.N.), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (M.G., C.J., P.V., N.B., F.B., J.M.M.), Barcelona, Spain; and Neuroradiology Section, Radiology Department, Centre de Diagnòstic per la Imatge (N.B., J.M.M.) and Pediatrics Section, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Radiology & Physics Medicine (F.B.), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.

Objective: To investigate the effects of prematurity on sulcal formation.

Methods: We evaluated the depth and volume of the primary olfactory sulcus (developed at 16 weeks' gestation) and the secondary orbital sulci (which start to develop at 28 weeks' gestation) in a sample of 22 adolescents with history of very-preterm birth (VPTB). We compared this preterm sample with a sample of subjects born at term and matched by age, gender, and sociocultural status. The Anatomist/BrainVISA 3.0.1 package was used to identify and quantify the sulci. In addition, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze possible reductions of gray and white matter in the orbitofrontal area.

Results: Compared with controls, we found a significant reduction in the secondary sulci depth but not in the primary sulcus in the VPTB. VBM analysis showed reduced gray-matter volume in VPTB in the orbital region.

Conclusions: Premature birth affects cerebral gyrification, and this impairment is not reversible during childhood. Identification of the specific factors involved in abnormal brain maturation may lead to effective interventions.

This work was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF2005-007340), and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2005 SGR 00855). M.G. holds a grant from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (AP2002-0737).

Disclosure: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Received April 3, 2006. Accepted in final form August 8, 2006.

Address correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr. Carme Junqué, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; e-mail: cjunque{at}ub.edu




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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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