The effects of high dose ACTH treatment on the neuronal development of suckling mice
Ohta, S.; Shimada, M.
No to Hattatsu 21(1): 26-36
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0831 PMID: 2535937 Document Number: 344911
This study on ACTH-treated suckling mice was undertaken to elucidate the effect of ACTH on neuronal growth and behavioral development. One unit of ACTH was administered successively from the day seven to eleven. ACTH-treated mice showed extreme impairment of both body weight and brain weight growth. These impairments were improved before 40 days of age. Dendritic arbolization of III and V layer neurons and myelination of pyramidal tracts were also impaired. The difference of dendritic grwoth between ACTH-treated mice and normal controls became little at 60 days of age. The difference of myelin lamellae between these two groups was significant at 20 days of age. There was no significant difference at 30 days of age. ACTH treatment also delayed the behavioral and motor development. In our experiments, the effects of ACTH were reversible, which were inhibitory to the neuronal development.