Postnatal rearing conditions influence ontogeny of adult dopamine transporter (DAT) immunoreactivity of the striatum in gerbils.
In the present study, the influence of postnatal rearing conditions on the structural maturation of the striatum of adult male gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) was investigated. For that purpose, animals were bred and reared either grouped in an object-filled environment (EC) or isolated under restricted environmental conditions (IC). At the age of postnatal day 90, dopamine fibers were stained immunocytochemically using an antibody against the dopamine transporter (DAT). Innervation density was determined along the entire rostrocaudal axis of the ventromedial and dorsolateral part of the striatum. As a result, restricted rearing produced a significant restraint of the maturation of striatal dopamine (DA) innervation, leading to adult fiber densities which were approximately 9% below those in semi-naturally reared gerbils. Results are discussed with structural and functional alterations observed in the brain of IC animals.
Department of Neuroanatomy, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany.
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K
Lehmann
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Teuchert-Noodt
R R
RR
Dawirs
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D004298:Dopamine