DENDRITIC PATTERN IN MOUSE BARREL FIELD AFTER A NEONATAL VIBRISSAL FOLLICLES REMOVAL - MAP-2 IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

A distribution of dendrites was studied in mouse barrel field after a neonatal unilateral partial lesion of vibrissal follicles using anti-M AP-2 Immunohistochemistry. The effect of a neonatal vibrissal follicle s removal was studied in adult mice: barrels corresponding to intact f ollicles were enlarged whereas those representing removed follicles ha d not developed. MAP-2 immunopositive profiles were considered to be d endritic clusters and their packing density (a number per unit area) w as calculated in an enlarged barrel and compared to a control barrel i n a contralateral hemisphere. A decrease in the packing density of lar ge dendritic clusters (area over 10 mu m(2)), presumably arising from layer V, was observed in an enlarged barrel in comparison to its contr ol counterpart. This result may indicate a rearrangement of a dendriti c pattern in mouse barrel field after a selective neonatal lesion of v ibrissal follicles.