Histochemistry of enzyme response to trauma in the neocortex and corpus callosum of developing rat brain.

The enzyme response to injury of the brain was well localized and limited. Some enzymes, even in 12 day old brain, increased rapidly, mainly in neocortical glial cells. In the corpus callosum enzymes were not significantly hyperactive before the light myelination stage. Some hyperactivity declined after 21 days. Oxidative processes and phosphate metabolism were most disturbed.