Normative Volume Development of the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract (poster)
View/ Open
Author
Christensen, Rachel Elisabeth
Ward, Haley Michelle
Stewart, Robert E.
Subject
Washington and Lee University -- Summer Research Scholars Program
Developmental neurophysiology
Taste
Solitary nucleus
Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
Poster; [FULL-TEXT RESTRICTED TO WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY LOGIN] Rachel E. Christensen is a member of the Class of 2015 of Washington and Lee University. Haley M. Ward is a member of the Class of 2015 of Washington and Lee University. Abundant research has shown that in most neural systems, mature synaptic relationships are fine-tuned during development. One correlate of such fine tuning is changes in axon termination patterns. Our lab has previously reported major, postnatal changes in axon terminal fields of the three major taste nerves that project information from taste cells in the oral cavity to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST). To understand the relative magnitude of those changes within the NST, we explored postnatal development of the nucleus in brain sections from hamsters aged between 8-209 days. The data from reconstructed NST was compiled to estimate volumes for each animal, and the mean volumes for each age group were computed. Rachel Christensen Haley Ward