Quantitative growth and development of human brain
Archives of Disease in ChildhoodPublished 1 October 1973Open access
John Dobbing, Jean Sands
Citations1,454
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score0.97
SNIP1.16
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
TL;DR
The growth spurt period is much more postnatal than has formerly been supposed; the cerebellum has special growth characteristics; and there is a separate period from 10 to 18 weeks' gestation when adult neuronal cell number may largely be achieved.
Abstract
One hundred and thirty-nine complete human brains ranging in age from 10 weeks9 gestation to 7 postnatal years, together with 9 adult brains, have been analysed in order to describe the human brain growth spurt quantitatively. The three major regions were examined for weight, DNA, cholesterol, and water content. The growth spurt period is much more postnatal than has formerly been supposed. The cerebellum has special growth characteristics; and there is a separate period from 10 to 18 weeks9 gestation when adult neuronal cell number may largely be achieved. The implications of these findings for the vulnerability of developing brain are discussed.
Keywords
Medicine
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciencesPrenatal and postnatal growth and development of the central nervous system of the pig
265 Citations1967J.W.T. Dickerson, John Dobbing
The growth and chemical development of the brain and spinal cord of the pig have been studied between the 52nd day of gestation and 3 years of age and the bearing of these results on the effects of stress on the development of The cerebellum was the only part of the central nervous system examined in which the absolute amount of DNA-P attained a mature value before three years ofAge.
Brain ResearchGrowth and development of the brain and spinal cord of the guinea pig
246 Citations1970John Dobbing, Jean Sands
The study has illustrated the precedence taken by the developing brain over the growth of the rest of the body, the loss of brain water as myelination proceeds, and a falling cell density even at a time when the total number of cells is rising.
American Journal of Clinical PathologyEstimation of Cholesterol in Serum
231 Citations1959Harrison H. Leffler
American journal of diseases of childrenUndernutrition and the Developing Brain
209 Citations1970John Dobbing
NatureTiming of Neuroblast Multiplication in Developing Human Brain
207 Citations1970John Dobbing, Jean Sands
Part of an extensive quantitative study of human brain growth undertaken to this end is reported, finding that the developing brain is most vulnerable to restrictions such as undernutrition at the time of its fastest growth.
British Journal Of NutritionVulnerability of developing brain
198 Citations1972B.P.F. Adlard, John Dobbing
It is concluded that undernutrition during the period of most rapid brain growth results in a lasting change in both the concentration and total activity of AChE in the brain.
Experimental NeurologyVulnerability of developing brain: VII. Permanent deficit of neurons in cerebral and cerebellar cortex following early mild undernutrition
196 Citations1971John Dobbing, J. W. Hopewell +1 more
Mild nutritional growth restriction during the period of the brain “growth spurt” in developing rats has resulted in a selective permanent reduction of weight and cell number in the cerebellum.
Pediatric ResearchChanges in Nucleic Acid and Protein Content of the Human Brain During Growth
130 Citations1968Myron Winick
The finding in this study indicate that cell division in the human brain appears to continue until five months of age ceases thereafter and that further growth occurs by increase in protein, RNA and, perhaps, lipid content of cells.
The LancetSMALL HEAD SIZE AFTER IN-UTERO EXPOSURE TO ATOMIC RADIATION
101 Citations1972RobertW. Miller, WilliamT. Blot
For the first time, dose estimates have been related to small head circumference induced by exposure in utero to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where there was a progressive increase with dose in the frequency of the abnormality.
American Journal of AnatomyBiochemical and physiological differentiation during morphogenesis. VIII. Quantitative morphologic studies on the developing cerebral cortex of the fetal guinea pig
96 Citations1950Virginia B. Peters, Louis B. Flexner
Journal of the Neurological SciencesPolyploidy in the human nervous system
44 Citations1973David Mann, P. O. Yates
It is found that all types of neurones in the human central nervous system studied by the researchers have a diploid DNA content and as such are no different from other somatic cells, and there are, however, classes of polyploid glia within the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum.
Experimental NeurologyVulnerability of developing brain: I. Some lasting effects of X-irradiation
30 Citations1970John Dobbing, J. W. Hopewell +2 more
The results provide yet another example of the differential susceptibility of the cerebellum when its growth is interfered with at a time when it is normally growing rapidly, and a substantial increase in its cellularity.
Journal of the Neurological SciencesPolyploidy in the human nervous system
28 Citations1973David Mann, P. O. Yates