Quantitative analysis of dendritic protrusions in the medial preoptic area during postnatal development.
Dendritic architecture and distribution of dendritic protrusions were studied on Golgi-impregnated neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of infant rats (7 and 20 days old), of animals at puberty (34 days old) and of postpubertal rats (90 days old) using computerized image analysis. The protrusions showed a peak distribution on the proximal portion of the dendritic tree in infant rats. At puberty and in postpubertal animals protrusions disappeared almost completely along the most proximal portion of the dendritic tree. The data suggest that differentiation of certain MPOA neurons is still in progress at puberty.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003712:Dendrites; D005260:Female; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats; D012741:Sexual Maturation