Postnatal development of GAP-43 immunoreactivity in the auditory brainstem of the rat

Extensive data link the growth associated protein GAP-43 to axonal elongation and synapse formation during development and in plastic responses of nervous tissue. We have studied the changing levels of GAP-43 expression in the auditory brainstem nuclei of the developing rat by applying immunocytochemical techniques. By the first postnatal day (P1), GAP-43 was expressed at high concentrations in all subdivisions of the cochlear nuclear complex and the superior olivary complex. At this stage, neuropil structures recognized by the antibody did not show any varicosities on cellular processes in all these regions. By P8, the texture of the stain has turned markedly more granular, a pattern likely to reflect the formation of presynaptic endings. A predominantly granular distribution of GAP-43 has developed by P12. At that time, the staining intensity is markedly reduced compared to the levels of the newborn. By P16, the auditory brainstem nuclei have lost most of their GAP-43 immunoreactivity, but a distinct level of staining persisted into adulthood in all of them. This staining was restricted to boutons, which are thought to be presynaptic terminals. We conclude that a moderate but apparently relevant potential for plasticity is retained in these auditory structures. Should the patterns of neural signals, mediated by the inner ear, change during adulthood, the central structures appear to be able to respond with the formation of altered synaptic connectivity.