Quantitative Histochemical Study on the Postnatal Development of Perineuronal Nets in the Retrosplenial Cortex of Albino Rats

Abstract

density of net-associated retrosplenial neurons (RSNs) at Pw2 was about 1.80±0.29 /UA (UA = 60.15 µm 2 ) after labeling with the WFA/CIC double staining technique, and this variant increased polynomially with progression of postnatal age reaching 9.12±1.82 /UA at Pw12. Quantitative analysis showed that the gain of net-associated RSNs increased rapidly during the first postnatal month (2.86 fold), and then increased 1.73 fold during the second month, but increased 1.02 fold at the third month. Statistical analysis revealed that throughout the postnatal period, the numerical density of net-associated RSNs increased significantly with advance of age (R = +0.992; P<0.01). In addition, the numerical densities of PGs-and GPs-coated neurons, as well as those exhibiting coat complexes (PGs/GPs coats), increased polynomially with progression of animal age (R = +0.996, +0.990 and +0.976, respectively with P < 0.01 in all parameters). At Pw2, the absolute numerical density of RSNs labeled with VVA, WFA, SBA, CIC and CIC-Bodian's staining measured about 2.12±0.