Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40235315›Full record

ArticleBrain : a journal of neurology2025

Alterations in dopaminergic innervation and receptors in focal cortical dysplasia.

Norisa Meli, Katherine Sheran, Julika Pitsch, Sabine Krabbe, Valeri Borger, Tobias Baumgartner, Albert Becker, Sandra Blaess

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain : a journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Norisa MeliNeurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Katherine SheranGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Julika PitschDepartment of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Sabine KrabbeGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Valeri BorgerDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Tobias BaumgartnerDepartment of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Albert BeckerInstitute for Cellular Neurosciences II, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Sandra BlaessNeurodevelopmental Genetics, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-1898-4891

Funding

BONFOR program of the Medical Faculty, University of BonnGerman Research FoundationMinistry of Culture and Science of the State of Northrhine WestphaliaNetzwerke 2021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type 2 is the most common malformation of cortical development associated with pharmaco-resistant focal epilepsy and frequently located in the frontal cortex. Neuropathological hallmarks comprise abnormal cortical layering and enlarged, dysmorphic neuronal elements. Fundamentally altered local neuronal activity has been reported in human FCD type 2 epilepsy surgical biopsies. Of note, FCD type 2 emerges during brain development and forms complex connectivity architectures with surrounding neuronal networks. Local cortical microcircuits, particularly in frontal localization, are extensively modulated by monoaminergic axonal projections originating from the brainstem. Previous analysis of monoaminergic modulatory inputs in human FCD type 2 biopsies suggested altered density and distribution of these monoaminergic axons; however, a systematic investigation is still pending. Here, we perform a comprehensive analysis of dopaminergic (DA) innervation, in human FCD type 2 biopsies and in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of an FCD type 2 mouse model [mechanistic target of rapamyin (mTOR) hyperactivation model] during adolescent and adult stages. In addition, we analyse the expression of dopamine receptor transcripts via multiplex fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization in human specimens and the mPFC of this mouse model. In the mTOR hyperactivation mouse model, we observe a transient alteration of DA innervation density during adolescence and a trend towards decreased innervation in adulthood. In human FCD type 2 areas, the overall DA innervation density is decreased in adult patients compared with control areas from these patients. Moreover, the DA innervation shows an altered lamination pattern in the FCD type 2 area compared with the control area. Dopamine receptors 1 and 2 appear to be differentially expressed in the dysmorphic neurons in human samples and mTOR-mutant cells in mice compared with normally developed neurons. Intriguingly, our results suggest complex molecular and structural alterations putatively inducing impaired DA neurotransmission in FCD type 2. We hypothesize that this may have important implications for the development of these malformations and the manifestation of seizures.

Indexed as

Dopaminergic NeuronsMalformations of Cortical DevelopmentMalformations of Cortical Development, Group IPrefrontal CortexReceptors, DopamineAdolescentAdultAnimalsChildDisease Models, AnimalEpilepsyFemaleFocal Cortical DysplasiaHumansMaleMiceReceptors, DopamineTOR Serine-Threonine Kinasescortical malformationsepileptogenesisneurodevelopmental disordersneuromodulationneurotransmitter systems

Identifiers

PMID40235315
PMCPMC12316006

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.