Cajal-Retzius cell density as marker of type of focal cortical dysplasia

Cajal-Retzius cells, identified using calretinin antiserum, were studied in layer I (LI) of adult human temporal cortex from epileptic patients with T aylor's focal cortical dysplasia and architectural dysplasia, in comparison with normal cortex. Both types of dysplasia showed LI hypercellularity, bu t only in architectural dysplasia was the density of Calal-Retzius cells si gnificantly increased. A subset of Cajal-Retzius cells were reelin immunore active, but none were GABA positive. These findings suggest that difference s in the persistence of Cajal-Retzius cells, which probably reflect differe nt types of alteration during brain development, can assist in characterizi ng different forms of cortical dysplasia. NeuroReport 12:2767-2771 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.