Postnatal changes in the distribution of acetylcholinesterase in kitten striate cortex.

We have traced the postnatal development of axons and cells in kitten striate cortex that contain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by using a modification of Koelle's histochemical method. The maturation of AChE-positive axons was not found to be fully complete until at least 3 months of age, and was characterized by several distinct developmental trends. AChE-positive fibers in layers IVc-VI proliferate rapidly after birth until, by 4 weeks postnatal, they appear to exceed the adult density. They remain at this level as late as 8 weeks and then decrease to the adult density by 13 weeks. In contrast, the AChE-positive fibers in layer I do not show a substantial increase in density until 6 weeks of age and the adult level is not achieved before 3 months postnatal. Finally, the density of AChE-positive fibers in layers II and III appears to increase gradually from birth until the mature pattern is reached at about 6 weeks. AChE could also be localized histochemically to cell bodies whose position and appearance depended on postnatal age. Stained cells first appeared in the white matter subjacent to layer VI shortly after birth. By 2 weeks of age, most cells in layer VI were also AChE positive. The staining of these cells gradually disappears over the next 2 months until, at 3 months of age, there are no AChE-positive cells in cat striate cortex. However, a subpopulation of stained neurons appears in layer V by 1 year of age that persists throughout adulthood. The possible contributions of acetylcholine and AChE to the postnatal development of kitten striate cortex are discussed.