title: Disorders of cell acquisition in the brain of rats deficient in vasopressin (Brattleboro mutant).
abstract: Neural cell acquisition and certain features of its underlying mechanisms were determined in the forebrain, cerebellum and olfactory bulbs of Brattleboro rats which were either heterozygous (control) or homozygous for a hereditary deficiency in vasopressin synthesis. In comparison with heterozygotes, the amount of DNA, which provides a measure of total cell number, was decreased in homozygous animals. The magnitude of the effect varied markedly from one brain part to another. Although more [(3)H]thymidine was retained in homozygous animals, the corrected values for DNA labeling showed a reduction in comparison with heterozygous rats. This decrease in mitotic activity preceded the reduction in brain cell number. The observed disturbances in brain cell acquisition of the Brattleboro mutant indicate a possible role for vasopressin in early brain development.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, IJdijk 28, 1095 KJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Patel