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Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the postnatal development of the ventroposterolateral nucleus of the thalamus in rat and rabbit
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Abstract
The total number of neurons indicated that the development of VPL nucleus in both species ended within the third week of postnatal life. The volume of VPL nucleus increased gradually (by about 2.2 and 5 times in rats and rabbits, respectively) in comparison with the volume of the cerebral hemisphere during the development from P0 to adulthood. The numerical density of VPL neurons decreased rapidly at the beginning of postnatal life and stabilized by the end of the third week. In both species, the gradual increase in the volume of VPL nucleus and the simultaneous decrease in the neuronal density in the first week of postnatal life were mainly caused by changes in the neuropil volume. The total number of cells did not change remarkably during the first postnatal week. However, it decreased significantly during the second week. This decrease was probably due to the naturaly occuring cell death.
These results show that the most prominent qualitative and quantitative changes in VPL nucleus and its neurons occur during the first two weeks of postnatal life of rats and rabbits. Also, because the thalamocortical relay neurons completely acquire their physiological features, this the most critical period of time for their morphological maturation.
Abstract
The total number of neurons indicated that the development of VPL nucleus in both species ended within the third week of postnatal life. The volume of VPL nucleus increased gradually (by about 2.2 and 5 times in rats and rabbits, respectively) in comparison with the volume of the cerebral hemisphere during the development from P0 to adulthood. The numerical density of VPL neurons decreased rapidly at the beginning of postnatal life and stabilized by the end of the third week. In both species, the gradual increase in the volume of VPL nucleus and the simultaneous decrease in the neuronal density in the first week of postnatal life were mainly caused by changes in the neuropil volume. The total number of cells did not change remarkably during the first postnatal week. However, it decreased significantly during the second week. This decrease was probably due to the naturaly occuring cell death.
These results show that the most prominent qualitative and quantitative changes in VPL nucleus and its neurons occur during the first two weeks of postnatal life of rats and rabbits. Also, because the thalamocortical relay neurons completely acquire their physiological features, this the most critical period of time for their morphological maturation.
Keywords
development; somatosensory thalamus; VPL; stereology; rat; rabbit
Title
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the postnatal development of the ventroposterolateral nucleus of the thalamus in rat and rabbit
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
75-87
Published online
2003-02-27
Page views
525
Article views/downloads
1081
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2003;62(2):75-87.
Keywords
development
somatosensory thalamus
VPL
stereology
rat
rabbit
Authors
Anna Łuczyńska
Jerzy Dziewiątkowski
Hanna Jagalska-Majewska
Przemysław Kowiański
Sławomir Wójcik
Cezary Labuda
Janusz Moryś