Histoenzymic investigation of the rat amygdala in the course of ontogenetic development.

A histoenzymic study of various dehydrogenases, phosphatases and of esterases was conducted in rat amygdala in the course of postfetal ontogenic development. The performed investigations have revealed a variable degree of activity of several enzymes in the course of postnatal maturation of the rat, corresponding to the gradually developing behavioural functions. The histochemical maturation of the amygdaloid system of the rat is completed at the age of between 17 and 40 days postnatal. The obtained evidence revealed considerable differences in AChE, ATP-ase and acP activity between the individual nuclei of the amygdala as well as some developmental variability of this differentiation.