Proliferative activity and characteristics of the structural-functional organization of the chromosomes in cells of the developing brain, related to the genetically determined excitability of the nervous system in rats

Abstract

This report describes the results of a comparative genetic analysis of the proliferation activity, level of chromosomal aberrations, and the state of interphase chromatin in nerve cells from the developing brains of rat embryos from lines with nervous systems of different excitation thresholds. A relationship between the basal level of nervous system excitability and these cytogenetic characteristics was found. Higher values were seen in embryos of the high-threshold line VP1, as compared with the low-threshold line NP1. The role of the cytogenetic characteristics of the embryo brain in the processes of CNS development and function are discussed in relation to the genetically determined level of nervous system excitability.