Takashima S, Mito T
Division of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
Early Hum Dev. 1992 Jun-Jul;29(1-3):171-5. doi: 10.1016/0378-3782(92)90134-3.
The development of neuronal dendrites dramatically changes in the medullary respiratory centers from prenatal to postnatal periods. The number of spines increases with gestation and decreases rapidly after birth in controls, but persist in sudden infant death syndrome patients. These abnormalities including neurotransmitters may cause a maladaptation in the development of cardiorespiratory control.