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Amygdala - histochemistry

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Human Uniqueness Compared to "Great Apes": 
Speculative Difference
MOCA Domain: 
Neuroscience
MOCA Topic Authors: 
Todd M Preuss

Humans evolved differences in the expression of calcium-binding proteins and extracellular-matix glycoproteins. Humans show different patterns of expression of the calcium-binding protein calbindin and of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan than do macaques and rats. No information is available for chimpanzees, however, so it is unclear whether this is a human or an ape-human specialization.

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Timing

Timing of Appearance of the Difference in the Hominin Lineage.

For this entry assume that

  • the common ancestor of humans and old world monkeys was 25000 thousand (25 million) years ago
  • the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees was 6000 thousand (6 million) years ago
  • the emergence of the genus Homo was 2000 thousand (2 million) years ago
  • the common ancestor of modern humans was 100 thousand years ago

 

Possible Appearance: 
25000 Thousand Years
Definite Appearance: 
100 Thousand Years
Background Information: 

Humans evolved differences in the expression of calcium-binding proteins and extracellular-matix glycoproteins. The calcium-binding protein calbindin (CB) is expressed by fewer neurons in humans than in macaques or rats (Sorvari et al., 1996). Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, which can be labeled with the Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), is reported to be expressed by glial cells (mainly astrocytes) as well as neurons in humans, whereas in macaques and rats, it is expressed exclusively by neurons (Pantazopoulus et al. 2008).  No information is available for chimpanzees, however, so it is unclear whether this is a human or an ape-human specialization.

Universality in Human Populations: 

 Unknown

Mechanisms Responsible for the Difference: 

 Unknown

Possible Selection Processes Responsible for the Difference: 

 Unknown

References: 
  • Sorvari H, Soininen H, Pitkanen A (1996) Calretinin-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the human amygdaloid complex. J Comp Neurol 369:188-208.
  • Pantazopoulos H, Murray EA, Berretta S (2008) Total number, distribution, and phenotype of cells expressing chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the normal human amygdala. Brain research 1207:84-95.

 

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