Trace element localization and changes in zinc and copper concentrations during postnatal development of the rat CNS

Changes in concentration and localization of the trace metals during postnatal ontogenetic development in the archi-, paleo-, and neurocerebellum, the cortex and the spinal cord of the rat have been studied by means of histochemical and atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis. It has been shown that the trace elements in the different regions of the nervous system become progressively detectable during the postnatal ontogenesis, and in the various structures (PURKINJE cells, pyramidal cells, motoneurons, mossy-fibre terminals) different times are necessary for the attainment of the localization observed in the mature animals. It is suggested that the trace elements may be transported not only intraneuronally, but also from neuron to neuron, from neuron to glia cell, and in the reverse direction, too.