Neuron and glial cells in neocortex after methylazoxymethanol treatment in early development

The quantitative changes were investigated in neuron and glia density in the different cortical layers of the frontal cortex of 3 and 12 month old mice, exposed to methylazoxymethanol on embryonic day 13 (MAM13). No loss of cortical neurons was found between young and adult animals. MAM exposure on the 13th day of development induced a neuron density decrease throughout on the entire cortical depth and did not produce changes in the density of glial cells with respect to the controls and to age. Consequently, at 3 months of age we observe a glia/neuron ratio greater than that of controls and at 12 months a similar value. In the neocortex of MAM-mice at this numerical uniformity of glial cell density, did not correspond to a similar proportional composition: the frequency of the astrocytes is lower, adapting to the decreased neuron density; the greater oligodendrocyte percentage may be related to disturbed layering and to the hyperinnervation of the hypoplastic cortex; the microglia shows a trend similar to that of the controls. These results, together with those of other studies, suggest that prenatal exposure to MAM causes a cortical compensatory response regulating glial cells proliferation.