The development of somatostatin immunoreactive neurons in cat visual cortical areas.
The development of somatostatin immunoreactive (SOM-ir) neurons in cat striate and extrastriate cortex was studied to determine whether temporal changes in the morphology, distribution and density of SOM-ir neurons during development would provide clues to the emergence of specific cortical areas. The visual cortical areas examined included areas 17-19 and 7, posteromedial lateral suprasylvian, posterolateral lateral suprasylvian cortex and splenial visual area. We observed that the pattern of SOM-ir neurons in the cortical plate reflects the maturation of the cortical plate. At 1 week of age, SOM-ir neurons were only found in layers V and VI of the developing cortex; by 2 weeks of age, SOM-ir neurons were found in layer IV; and by 3 weeks of age, SOM-ir neurons were located in all layers of the cortex except layer I. SOM-ir neurons in the subplate were much more numerous under lateral cortical areas than under medial areas. This difference decreased over the first 2 postnatal weeks and by the 14th day after birth (P14), the distribution and numbers of SOM-ir neurons in the subplate/white matter had reached the adult pattern. The timing of exuberant SOM expression in the subplate suggests a function in the formation of visual corticocortical connections which begin to develop during the first postnatal week in the kitten.
Hogan
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Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7400.
Berman
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NE
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002452:Cell Count; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development
D013004:Somatostatin