Hypoxia and development of interneurones of the rat hippocampus
Pokorný, J.; Pecová, Y.; Trojan, S.; Langmeier, M.
Physiologia Bohemoslovaca 38(3): 215-222
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-9463 PMID: 2528767 Document Number: 331703
Interneuronal connections are an important component of the integration circuits of the hippocampus. They are formed mostly postnatally, i.e. in a phase when their development can be strongly influenced by external environmental factors. In model postnatal hypoxia, a morphometric analysis showed reduction of the number of dendritic segments (chiefly 3rd order segments) in 18-day-old rats. The total length of the dendrites was unaltered, but mean segment length increased. Interneurone density in the experimental animals was higher, especially in the stratum radiatum, but pyramidal cell density was lower than in the controls. These findings are evidence that hypoxia has a complex effect on the microscturture of the hippocampus and that, in the long run, it can lead to impairment of the balance of the elementary processes of excitation and inhibition.