title: Neurochemical development of the striatum in a precocial (guinea pig) and an altricial (rat) species.
abstract: In this study, the developmental patterns of key neurotransmitter marker enzymes, namely choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the corpus striatum were compared between the guinea pig and rat. In an attempt to assess cell acquisition and differentiation, striatal DNA and protein content were also determined during development in the two species. The most outstanding feature apparent from these investigations was a sequential maturation of the three neurotransmitter-synthesizing enzymes: TH and GAD first, followed by ChAT in striata of both species. The developmental increase in DNA content suggests that cell acquisition in the rat striatum is approximately 50% at birth, whereas in the guinea pig, the total population is present before birth, and thereafter cell numbers decline. The accretion of protein, reflecting the increase in region size, continued into adulthood in both species. With emphasis on cholinergic neurons, the neurochemical findings are assessed in relation to the morphological descriptions of cellular changes during pre- and postnatal development of the striatum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, King's College, University of London, U.K.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Kalaria
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Prince
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase