Histological maturation of the neocortex in phenylketonuric rats

The histological maturation of pyramidal cells from the deeper layer of the neocortex was studied in phenylketonuric rats. The main alterations consist of a decrease in the number of span and dendritic basilar processes of large pyramidal cells, and changes in the structural organization of the cerebral cortex. It is postulated that high levels of phenylalanine induced immediately after birth disturb profoundly the process of neuronal maturation in the neocortex of the rat brain, probably with long-term effects.