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Synaptogenesis in monkey somatosensory cortex.

N Zecevic1, P Rakic

  • 1Section of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.

Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|November 1, 1991
PubMed
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Synaptogenesis in rhesus monkeys shows overproduction of synapses in infancy, followed by elimination during adolescence. This synaptic pruning in the somatosensory cortex impacts neural development and function.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Primate Neuroanatomy

Background:

  • Synaptogenesis, the formation of synapses, is crucial for brain development and function.
  • Understanding the developmental trajectory of synaptic density is key to comprehending neural maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the time course and rate of synaptogenesis in the rhesus monkey somatosensory cortex.
  • To determine the patterns of synaptic overproduction and elimination throughout postnatal development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of electron micrographs from the somatosensory cortex (Brodmann's areas 1 and 3b) of 27 rhesus monkeys (embryonic day 41 to 20 years).
  • Quantitative assessment of synaptic density per unit volume of cortex and neuropil using vertical probes.

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Main Results:

  • Synaptic density increases steadily during fetal and early infant stages, peaking by the second postnatal month.
  • A significant decrease in synaptic density occurs around puberty, with adult levels being substantially lower than in juveniles.
  • Synaptic elimination primarily involves asymmetrical synapses on dendritic spines, while symmetrical synapses remain relatively stable.

Conclusions:

  • The rhesus monkey somatosensory cortex exhibits a pattern of synaptic overproduction in infancy followed by elimination during adolescence.
  • This developmental process of synaptic pruning is consistent with neurotransmitter receptor dynamics and synaptogenesis in other cortical areas.
  • The timing of synaptogenesis and elimination in the postcentral gyrus likely underlies the maturation and plasticity of somatosensory functions.