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Late prenatal ontogeny of central monoamine neurons in the rat: Fluorescence histochemical observations

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Summary

The development of all monoamine-containing neuron systems in the rat brain throughout the last seven days of gestation, i.e. from the 15th day to term, crown rump length (CRL) 16 mm to 42 mm, has been followed using the Falck-Hillarp method for fluorescence histochemistry. Serial sagittal, horizontal and transverse sections through whole brains of fetuses from MAO-inhibited mothers have been carefully analyzed by fluorescence microscopy, and drawings of almost all sections depicting specific fluorescence have been collected from 10 of the 16 analyzed brains. Thus, all the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) neuron systems have been mapped, both regarding the cell groups, the formation of axon pathways and the development of terminal plexuses in the whole brain prenatally. Together with a previous report (Olson and Seiger, 1972a) the present data have made it possible to determine the common origin of groups A1–A3, A4–A7, A8–A10, B1–B3 and B4–B9, respectively (nomenclature according to Dahlström and Fuxe, 1964). These findings and an estimation of the number of visible fluorescent cells in all monoamine cell complexes throughout the prenatal period of development have been summarized in a flow-chart. In the full-term fetus all monoamine neurons and their axon pathways, except for the hypothalamic cell groups, are very well developed. Thus, the new neuroanatomical data presented, in all probability hold true also for the adult state. A comprehension of the innervation course of neostriatum by DA nerve terminals from the 14th day of gestation to adult hood is given.

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  1. Department of Histology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Åke Seiger & Lars Olson

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  1. Åke Seiger
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Seiger, Å., Olson, L. Late prenatal ontogeny of central monoamine neurons in the rat: Fluorescence histochemical observations. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 140, 281–318 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00525058

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