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Brain Myelination after Neonatal Administration of Oestradiol

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Abstract

OESTRADIOL administered neonatally hastens functional brain maturation of the young rat as demonstrated by electroshock techniques1. The mechanism of this action is unknown, but it has been suggested that it is related to changes in brain metabolism and/or myelination1. Postnatal histological studies of the brain of the normal rat indicate that the rate of myelination in the hypothalamus is greatest between 10 and 20 days of age2,3. In the cortex this process begins on about day 12 and continues until about day 60 of age4. The present investigation was undertaken to learn whether or not early postnatal injection of oestradiol influences the rate of brain myelination in the developing rat, and whether it thereby hastens functional brain maturation.

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References

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Author notes

  1. JOHN J. CURRY III

    Present address: Department of Physiology, University of California, Berkeley, California

  2. LOUISE M. HEIM

    Present address: Bureau of Biological Research, Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York

    JOHN J. CURRY III & LOUISE M. HEIM

Authors
  1. JOHN J. CURRY III
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  2. LOUISE M. HEIM
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CURRY, J., HEIM, L. Brain Myelination after Neonatal Administration of Oestradiol. Nature 209, 915–916 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209915a0

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