Stimulation of Snell dwarf mouse neuronal growth by GH and T4.

An investigation of the Snell dwarf motor cortex, area 6 of Caviness, was carried out by means of a modified Golgi silver impregnation method. The pyramidal neurons located in layer V were found to have small perikarya, short primary dendrites with sparse branchings. Following administration of bovine growth hormone (bGH) and thyroxine (T4) during the first 20 d of postnatal life, this retarded neuronal growth was restored to normal: neuronal perikarya were enlarged, and the dentrites were thicker with denser branchings. These results were confirmed in the sections stained for neuron specific enolase (NSE). These findings demonstrate that exogenous GH and T4, will enhance neuronal growth in the Snell dwarf cerebrum, and restore neuronal arborization to normal.