ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY AS A MARKER OF MATURATION OF THE BASOLATERAL COMPLEX OF THE AMYGDALOID BODY IN THE RAT

Development and maturation of the basolateral complex of the amygdaloi d body were studied in fetal and postnatal rat brains. In cresyl viole t-stained sections the basolateral complex was distinguishable at the 17th prenatal day. On about the 14th postnatal day, it showed all the features of the adult structure. The acetylcholinesterase activity app eared in neuropil of the basolateral complex on the seventh postnatal day; it increased slowly up to the 60th day. After that age, the acety lcholinesterase activity was stable in all parts of the basolateral co mplex and corresponded to its cytoarchitectonic differentiation. Our r esults suggest that the process of maturation of the amygdaloid basola teral complex, being related to the ingrowing of the cholinergic fiber s from the basal forebrain, lasts at least up to the end of the second month of postnatal life. Copyright (C) 1996 ISDN.