Developmental abnormalities of corticospinal tract neurons in prenatally irradiated rats: a study using retrograde labeling with fast blue and intracellular lucifer yellow staining
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Abstract
The effect of prenatal X-irradiation on the ontogenesis of corticospinal tract (CST)
neurons was examined in rats using retrograde labeling with Fast blue and intracellular
Lucifer yellow staining. In prenatally irradiated rats, the cortical laminar architecture
of the CST neurons was confused and many cells demonstrated migratory disturbances.
Migratory-disordered CST neurons at deeper cortical levels resembled pyramidal cells,
but their apical dendrites were oriented in various directions and the development
of their dendrites was poor. Migratory-disordered CST neurons near the ependymal layer
demonstrated round somata and many thin dendrites with spokewise radiation, suggesting
a maturation disturbance. These results suggested that prenatal X-irradiation impeded
the migration and maturation of CST neurons. These findings may form the basis for
analyzing the mechanisms of radiation-induced mental retardation and behavioral changes.