The packing density of supragranular pigment-laden stellate cells in phylogenetically older and newer portions of the human telencephalic cortex.

Conspicuous pigment deposits which can be intensely stained by aldehydefuchsin characterize a type of small stellate cell. These can mainly be found in the supragranular layers (layers II and III) of the human isocortex. The packing density of these cells has been evaluated in different cortical areas. The blocks used were cut out of the brain in such a manner as to include phylogenetically older parts of the cortex, fields of intermediate differentiation, and mature isocortex. The counting results verify a gradual increase in the packing density of the supragranular pigment-laden stellate cells from phylogenetically older to newer portions of the telencephalic cortex.