Development of the various glial cell types in the cerebral cortex of postnatal rats.

The present quantitative study in the postnatal rats showed the rapid growth of the various glial cell types in the cerebral cortex. Among them, the increase of microglia was most dramatic. The increase was about 15 times, covering a period of 15 days extending from 5 days of age to 20 days. The majority of the microglia observed were in the outer third of the cortex. During the same period, the number of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes also showed a steady but moderate increase. The increase of oligodendrocytes was most significant between 5 and 10 days. Their density was greater in the inner third of the cortex. Astrocytes were distributed uniformly throughout. Examination of the cerebral cortex in 1- to 3-day-old rats by electron microscopy showed sporadic ameboid microglia cells and glioblasts. The possibility that they served as the precursor cells of microglia and macroglia (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), respectively, was considered.