Changes in the number of dendritic spines in the medial preoptic area during a premature long-term social isolation in rats.
A quantitative Golgi study was carried out in order to detect changes in the number of dendritic spines in neurones of the strial part of the medial preoptic area during a long-term (10 months) social isolation in prematurely weaned rats. An increase has been found in these postsynaptic structures for the isolated animals. Such an increase can indicate that a greater synaptic connectivity exists in this area. In this paper our results are compared with data reported by other authors showing an increased unit activity in this area under stress conditions.
Sánchez-Toscano
F
F
Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
Sánchez
M M
MM
Garzón
J
J
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012934:Social Isolation; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology