Early prenatal ontogeny of central monoamine neurons in the rat: Fluorescence histochemical observations

It is concluded that the monoamine-neurons develop mechanisms for synthesis and storage of amines at a very early stage during ontogeny, thus recapitulating the phylogeny of these old systems.

Abstract

The early ontogeny of the monoamine neuron systems in the rat brain has been analysed using Falck-Hillarp fluorescence histochemistry. Serial sagittal sections of embryos with a crown rump length between 7 and 13 mm, approximately corresponding to gestational days 12 to 15 were obtained from mothers treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor given in order to increase the monoamine levels of the embryos. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-neurons made their first appearance in the 8 mm embryo, dopamine (DA)-neurons in the 9 mm embryo, and noradrenaline (NA)-neurons in the 11 mm embryo. Small, rounded, weakly fluorescent cell bodies forming sparse aggregations appeared first. Fluorescent processes of two types soon appeared. Short processes from the cell bodies were running perpendicular to the long axis of the brain stem within the cell groups, while long slender axon bundles could be traced ascending through the met- and mesencephalon and into the prosencephalon as well as descending in the myelencephalon andspinal cord. In the 12 mm embryo the primordial DA cell formation of the substantia nigra with its striatal projections, the 5-HT neuron formations of the caudal mesencephalon, met- and myelencephalon as well as the NA neurons of the met- and myelencephalon are relatively well developed. It is concluded that the monoamine-neurons develop mechanisms for synthesis and storage of amines at a very early stage during ontogeny, thus recapitulating the phylogeny of these old systems. Likewise, monoamine oxidase is present early. The presence of neurotransmitters specifying the different developing neurons long before development of their nerve terminal areas and therefore before the establishment of normal synaptic function may indicate a role of these substances during ontogeny other than transmission of nerve impulses.