Early development of noradrenaline-containing sympathetic nerves in the choroid plexus system of the rabbit

The development of the adrenergic sympathetic innervation of the rabbit choroid plexus system was studied prenatally and up to two months after birth by a combination of fluorescence histochemistry (formaldehyde and glyoxylic acid methods) and quantitative enzymatic determinations of noradrenaline. The first signs of adrenergic nerves are found in the plexus of the third ventricle within the first day after birth. Fluorescent fibres subsequently appear in the choroid plexuses of the lateral ventricles (five days post partum) and the fourth ventricle (two weeks post partum). During the following development nerve fibres grow along blood vessels to form a plexus located between small vessels and the overlying epithelium. The nerve plexus, with varicose axon terminals, is fully developed at three weeks post partum, and maturation is then established by an increase in the number of terminals within the network of axons. There is a good agreement between (a) the development of the fluorescent nerves and histochemically visible adrenergic innervation, and (b) the tissue level of noradrenaline in the various choroid plexuses. Against the background of available information on the development of the secretory functions in choroid plexus, it is concluded that possibilities for a sympathetic neurogenic influence on the formation of cerebrospinal fluid exist already a few weeks after birth.