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PMID: 729659 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Synaptic development in the rabbit superior colliculus and visual cortex.

Experimental brain research ·Vol. 33 ·No. 3-4 ·1978-11-15 ·Pages 353-69

Mathers LH, Mercer KL, Marshall PE

Abstract

The development of synapses in the visual cortex (VC) and superior colliculus (SC) of the rabbit has been examined with the electron microscope. In both areas, the number of synapses reaches adult levels by 20--25 days of postnatal age, but the development in the visual cortex is delayed in comparison to that in the superior colliculus. When S synapses (spheroidal vesicles, asymmetric thickening) are compared with F synapses (flattened vesicles, symmetric thickening), even greater differences are seen. In both the VC and SC, S synapses develop earlier than F synapses, though there is considerable overlap. Of interest is that fact that synapses in the visual cortex seem to overshoot their adult levels late in development, suggesting that an excess of synapses may be formed in this system. Multiple synapses, probably of retinal origin, increase in the first 3 weeks of synaptic development in the SC, but never are present in significant proportions in the VC. Synapse formation most often is characterized by formation of a junction and a postsynaptic thickening, followed by acquisition of synaptic vesicles. After 15 days, there is only a small number of such "non-vesicle synapses" in either the SC or VC.

MeSH Terms
Age Factors Animals Cell Count Cell Differentiation Dendrites/ultrastructure Rabbits Retina/physiology Superior Colliculi/cytology,physiology Synapses/physiology,ultrastructure Synaptic Vesicles/ultrastructure Visual Cortex/cytology,physiology Visual Pathways/cytology
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Mathers L H
Mercer K L
Marshall P E
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Article Info
Journal
Experimental brain research
Abbr.
Exp Brain Res
ISSN
0014-4819
DOI
10.1007/BF00235559
Published
1978-11-15
Pages
353-69
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
0043312
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00235559 View journal details
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