Summary
Timm's sulphide-silver method and the histochemical procedures for the demonstration of AChE, MAO and SDH were applied to the brains of three strains of adult mice of either sex: C57/BL/6J, DBA/2J and NMRI.
Differences between strains were found 1) in the sulphide-silver pattern of the molecular layer of area dentata, probably reflecting differences in entorhinal, ipsilateral and/or commissural connections, 2) in the distribution of the mossy fibers, 3) in the AChE-staining of a suprapyramidal zone of regio inferior, probably reflecting differences in septal connections, 4) in the AChE-staining of the induseum griseum.
The staining patters for MAO and SDH did not vary, at least not qualitatively, between the strains investigated.
Variation in adult age and sex did not influence the results.
Since the differences observed seemed to reflect a pattern of genetic differentiation, five more inbred mice (A/J, AKR/A, BALB/c/A, C3H/Tif, St/6Fi) were included to strengthen the hypothesis that different genetic systems are operating at separate septo-temporal levels in the same areas during the development of the hippocampal formation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amin A, Chai CK, Reineke EP (1957) Differences in thyroid activity of several strains of mice and F1 hybrids. Amer J Physiol 191:34–36
Barber RP, Vaughn JE, Wimer RE, Wimer CC (1974) Genetically-associated variations in the distribution of dentate granule cell synapses upon the pyramidal cell dendrites in mouse hippocampus. J Comp Neurol 156:417–434
Blackstad TW (1956) Commissural connections of the hippocampal region in the rat, with special references to their mode of termination. J Comp Neurol 105:417–538
Chai CK (1958) Endocrine variation. J Hered 49:143–148
Chai CK, Dickie MM (1966) Endocrine variations. In: EL Green (ed) Biology of the laboratory mouse. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 387–403
Gaarskjaer FB (1978) Organization of the mossy fiber system of the rat studied in extended hippocampi. II. Experimental analysis of fiber distribution with silver impregnation methods. J Comp Neurol 178:73–88
Geneser-Jensen FA (1972) Distribution of acetyl cholinesterase in the hippocampal region of the guinea pig. II. Subiculum and hippocampus. Z Zellforsch 124:546–560
Geneser-Jensen FA, Blackstad TW (1971) Distribution of acetyl cholinesterase in the hippocampal region of the guinea pig. I. Entorhinal area, parasubiculum, and presumbiculum. Z Zellforsch 114:460–481
Geneser-Jensen FA, Haug F-MŠ, Danscher G (1974) Distribution of heavy metals in the hippocampal region of the guinea pig. Z Zellforsch 147:441–478
Glenner GG, Burtner HJ, Brown GW (1957) The histochemical demonstration of monoamine oxidase activity by tetrazolium salts. J Histochem Cytochem 5:591–600
Glenner GG, Weissbach H, Redfield BG (1960) The histochemical demonstration of enzymatic activity by a nonenzymatic redox reaction. Reduction of tetrazolium salts by indolyl-3-acetaldehyde. J Histochem Cytochem 8:258–261
Haug F.-M.Š (1973) Heavy metals in the brain. A light microscope study of the rat with Timm's sulphide silver method. Methodological considerations and cytological and regional staining patterns. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 47/4:1–71
Haug F-MŠ (1974) Light microscopical mapping of the hippocampal region, the pyriform cortex and the corticomedial amygdaloid nuclei of the rat with Timm's sulphide silver method. I. Area dentata, hippocampus and subiculum. Z Anat Entwickl Gesch 145:1–27
Haug F-MŠ (1976) Laminar distribution of afferents in the allocortex, visualized with Timm's sulphide silver method for “heavy metals”. Seventh International Neurobiology Meeting, Göttingen, 1975. Exp Brain Res Suppl 1:177–178
Hjorth-Simonsen A, Jeune B (1972) Origin and termination of the hippocampal perforant path in the rat studied by silver impregnation. J Comp Neurol 144:215–232
Lauder JM, Mugnaini E (1977) Early hyperthyroidism alters the distribution of mossy fibres in the rat hippocampus. Nature 268:335–337
Laurberg S (1979) Commissural and intrinsic connections of the rat hippocampus. J Comp Neurol 184:685–708
Lorente de Nó R (1934) Studies on the structure of the cerebral cortex. II. Continuation of the study of the Ammonic system. J Psychol Neurol (Lpz) 46:113–177
Mellgren SI, Blackstad TW (1967) Oxidative enzymes (tetrazolium reductase) in the hippocampal region of the rat. Z Zellforsch 78:167–207
Mellgren SI, Geneser-Jensen FA (1972) Distribution of monoamine oxidase in the hippocampal region of the rat. Z Zellforsch 124:354–366
Stephan H (1975) Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, IV/9. Allocortex. Springer-Verlag, Berlin
Steward O (1976) Topographical organization of the projections from the entorhinal area to the hippocampal formation of the rat. J Comp Neurol 167:285–314
Storm-Mathisen J (1977) Localization of transmitter candidates in the brain: The hippocampal formation as a model. Prog Neurobiol 8:119–181
Storm-Mathisen J, Blackstad TW (1964) Cholinesterase in the hippocampal region. Acta Anat 56:216–253
Timm F (1958) Zur Histochemie der Schwermetalle. Das Sulfid-Silber-Verfahren. Dtsch Z ges gerichtl Med 46:706–711
Tunnicliff G, Wimer CC, Wimer RE (1973) Relationships between neurotransmitter metabolism and behaviour in seven inbred strains of mice. Brain Res 61:428–434
Vaughn JE, Matthew DA, Barber RP, Wimer CC, Wimer RE (1977) Genetically-associated in the development of hippocampal pyramidal neurons may produce differences in mossy fiber connectivity. J Comp Neurol 173:41–52
Wimer RE, Wimer CC, Roderich TH (1969) Genetic variability in forebrain structures between inbred strains of mice. Brain Res 16:257–264
Wimer RE, Wimer CC, Vaughn JE, Barber RP, Balvanz BA, Chernow CR (1976) The genetic organization of neuron number in Ammon's horns of house mice. Brain Res 118:219–243
Wimer RE, Wimer CC, Vaughn JE, Barber RP, Balvanz BA, Chernow CR (1978) The genetic organization of neuron number in the granule cell layer of the area dentata in house mice. Brain Res 157:105–122
Wimer RE, Wimer CC, Chernow CR, Balvanz BA (1980) The genetic organization of neuron number in the pyramical cell layer of hippocampal regio superior in house mice. Brain Res 196:59–77
Zimmer J (1971) Ipsilateral afferents to the commissural zone of the fascia dentata, demonstrated in decommissurated rats by silver impregnation. J Comp Neurol 142:393–416
Zimmer J (1974a) Proximity as a factor in the regulation of aberrant axonal growth in postnatally deafferented fascia dentata. Brain Res 72:137–142
Zimmer J (1974b) Long term synaptic reorganization in rat fascia dentata deafferented at adolescent and adult stages: Observations with the Timm method. Brain Res 76:336–342
Zimmer J, Laurberg S (1978) Postlesional changes in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining pattern of the hippocampus and fascia dentata may depend on trophic interactions with major afferent pathways and not denervation alone. Neurosci Letters Suppl 1:49
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fredens, K. Genetic variation in the histoarchitecture of the hippocampal region of mice. Anat Embryol 161, 265–281 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301825
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301825