Perinatal ontogeny of brain growth in the domestic pig

The perinatal development of the brain is highlighted by a growth spurt who se timing varies among species. The growth of the porcine cerebrum was Inve stigated from the third trimester of gestation (70 days postconception) thr ough the first 3.5 weeks of postnatal life(140 days postconception). The sh ape of the growth curves for cerebrum weight, total protein mass, total cel l number (estimated by DNA content), and myelination (estimated by choleste rol accretion) were described, The growth velocity of cerebrum weight had t wo peaks, one at 90 days and the of her at 130 days postconception, whereas that of total protein was greatest from 90 to 130 days post- conception, a nd that of total DNA was greatest between 90 and 110 days and again at 130 days postconception. The growth velocity for total cholesterol continued to increase during the entire period, suggesting that myelination continued a fter the growth spurts for cells (protein and DNA). The growth velocity pat terns observed in these contemporary pigs suggest that this species may be an appropriate model far human brain development, not only in the perinatal pattern of Increase in mass of the cerebrum, as established previously, bu t also with regard to the patterns of cellular development and myelination.