CNPASE EXPRESSION IN THE DEVELOPING OPOSSUM BRAIN-STEM AND CEREBELLUM

IMMUNOREACTIVITY to 2',3'cyclic nucleotide 3'phosphohydrolase (CNPase; EC 3.1.4.37) was studied in the developing opossum brain stem and cer ebellum. Regional differences were found in oligodendrocytes concernin g the time of appearance (early: medial longitudinal fascicle [mlf]; i ntermediate: inferior colliculus [IC], deep layers of the superior col liculus [SC] and white matter of cerebellar folia; late: optic layer o f SC) and duration of immunoreactivity (short: optic layer of SC; inte rmediate: mlf; long: cerebellar folia, etc). The results suggest that regional heterogeneities in CNPase expression are linked to intrinsic properties of local and afferent axons.