Glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in discrete hypothalamic nuclei during the development of rats.

We have assessed the activity (nmol/mg protein/h) of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in discrete hypothalamic nuclei before and after sexual maturation in the developing female rat. Activity in other brain regions including the cortex, septum and caudate-putamen was also assessed. While there appears to be a general rise (approximately 30%), with age, in GAD activity, the rise is most marked, and highly significant (P less than 0.001), in the anterior portion of the hypothalamus (56%). In contrast, no significant increase of GAD activity was found in the medical basal hypothalamus.