Immunohistochemical analysis of glutamate, cholecystokinin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the lateral geniculate complex of albino rat: A developmental study.

The lateral geniculate nuclear complex of albino rats was investigated with respect to the development of neurotransmitters/neuromodulators such as glutamate, cholecystokinin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide at gestational day 18, various postnatal age periods and in the adult using immunohistochemical methods. The study shows the unequivocal presence of and the sequential changes in the profile of glutamate while cholecystokinin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are not demonstrable at any of the age periods. Glutamate is seen both in the cells and fibres from 40 postnatal day onwards and immunoreactivity is more intense in the adult. The findings are discussed with relevance to the role of neurotransmitters in development.