Response to Boban et al: computer-assisted 3D reconstruction of the nucleus basalis complex, including the nucleus subputaminalis (Ayala's nucleus)

We appreciate the suggestions of Boban et al . (2006) in clarifying the designation of a circumscribed basophilic nuclear complex as depicted in Fig. 2 (Ch4 p?) of our recent publication (Teipel et al ., 2005). The basophilia of the neurons forming this cluster was the main reason why we decided to include this cluster into a Ch4al–Ch4p continuum. Furthermore, Hedreen et al . (1984) preferred the Mesulam et al . (1983) terminology as a thorough and very useful description which may prove to be definitive. At the time of our joint MRI-cytoarchitectonic study of the NBC we had no gapless serial sections from the single case investigated because every second section of this series was either stored in formalin or used for paraffin embedding and neuropathological diagnosis (cf. Fig. 1A in Teipel et al ., 2005). Fig. 1 Computer-assisted 3D reconstruction of the left nucleus basalis complex (NBC) and neighboring structures of a 50-year-old non-demented woman. ( A ) view from the occiptal pole, ( B ) ventral view from the anterior perforate substance. In ( A ) the first of a total of 44 gallocyanin-stained 400 μm thick sections used for the 3D reconstruction was left in situ . Putamen, nucl. accumbens, globus pallidus and anterior commissure are displayed in a transparent mode.Meanwhile, we could cut and stain complete 400 μm thick serial sections [details on the method are given in Heinsen et al . (2000)] from two control cases, a 50-year-old female who died due to aspiration and a 43-year-old-male who died due to embolism of the pulmonary artery.Our 3D reconstructions (Fig. …