Neuropeptide Y immunoreactive axons in the corpus callosum of the cat during postnatal development.

Many immunocytochemical studies have identified different types of neurotransmitters localized in the corpus callosum (CC) axons in the adult mammal. Few studies have looked at the development of different neurochemically identified CC systems. Previous studies on the development of cat CC axons have indicated that a large number of transitory CC axons project to the cortex during early postnatal development. The present study focuses on the development of one neurochemically identified group of CC axons in the cat, labeled with an antibody against neuropeptide Y (NPY), to determine if this group participates in transitory CC axonal growth. Cats at specified ages from birth to adulthood were studied with a routine method of immunocytochemistry for antiserum to NPY. NPY-immunoreactive (ir) CC axons were detected at all stages examined, from newborn to adult; the peak density occurred during postnatal weeks (PNW) 3-4. During PNW 1-2, the density of NPY-ir CC axons increased gradually; some NPY-ir axons at this age had growth cones located within the CC bundle between the cerebral hemispheres. The density of the NPY-ir CC axons decreased gradually during PNW 5-7, and from PNW 8 to maturity only a few NPY-ir CC axons were observed. These results indicate that at least two types of NPY-ir CC axons (i.e., transitory and permanent) exist during development, and that most of these axons are eliminated or only express NPY-ir for a short period during development. The results also indicate that neurochemical subsets of CC axons participate in the extensive transitory growth observed by means of the membrane tracer DiI but they may follow unique developmental timetables.