Fig. 8

Overall reduction in OFC neuron density in adults with ASD. (a) Examples of OFC coronal sections stained with Nissl or antibodies against the three main markers of inhibitory neurons (PV, CB, and CR) in OFC. (b) Example of different types of cells in OFC visualized by Nissl stain: (i–v) examples of neurons. Note example of an oligodendrocyte in (iii) near a neuron (arrowhead). (vi, vii) examples of astrocytes. (viii) Example of an endothelial cell. (ix) Example of microglia. c, e, f, g Packing density of different cell populations, estimated as number of cells in a layer per volume of respective layer. (d) Relative density of total neurons, estimated as number of Nissl stained neurons in a layer per volume of entire included column. c, d Total neuron density in the ASD group was lower than the Control group. e–g The densities of three major types of inhibitory neurons, PV, CB and CR, were not significantly different between groups. h–j The density of all three types of inhibitory neurons relative to total neuron population showed no significant differences between groups