Dendritic architecture of corticothalamic neurons in a rat model of microgyria

Abstract

Materials and methods: Freezing lesions of the sensorimotor cortex resembling focal human microgyria were carried out in newborn rats on first postnatal day (P1). The fine architecture of dendritic trees of corticothalamic neurons was studied in microgyric animals on P90.

Results and discussion: Compared with controls, layer 5 corticothalamic neurons located in the cortex surrounding the experimental lesion display longer basal dendrites. This finding is discussed with reference to earlier results on dendrites of layer 3 associative neurons, which, in contrast to those of corticothalamic neurons, appear to be markedly simplified.