Transient expression of somatostatin receptors in the rat cerebellum during development.

Somatostatin and somatostatin receptors have not been identified in adult rat cerebellum. In contrast, during the development, somatostatin-containing neurons have been visualized in the deep layers of the cerebellum. The present study shows that during ontogenesis, somatostatin receptors are present in close association with the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum. No correlation was found between the location of immunoreactive somatostatin and the distribution of somatostatin receptors. The disappearance of somatostatin receptors, from postnatal day 13 to 23, was concomitant with the involution of the external germinal layer.