The development of the rat somatosensory system was followed electrophysiologically and immunohistochemically. In the surface evoked potential elicited in the primary somatosensory cortex by electrical stimulation of the whisker C3 follicle, a short-latency positive wave was first recorded on postnatal Day 2. A long-latency positive wave was recorded in some pups on postnatal Day 7 and in most pups on postnatal Day 8. On postnatal Day 10, a P/N complex appeared between the short- and long-latency positive waves. Parvalbumin, believed to appear with functional maturation, appeared mainly after postnatal Day 7 in Layer V in the underlying area, although a few weakly stained cells appeared on postnatal Day 5. On postnatal Day 10, weakly stained cells appeared in the area containing barrels; their staining increased with time. In this system, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical parameters changed by the 3rd postnatal week with the most marked changes occurring within 2 postnatal weeks.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.