The angiogenesis of the micrencephalic rat brains caused by methylazoxymethanol acetate. III. Internal angioarchitecture of cortex.

The intracortical angioarchitecture of normal and micrencephalic rat brains was examined. The neuroblast migration was disturbed by injection of the neurotoxin methylazoxymethanol acetate, administered on day E14. The internal vascularization of the malformed cortex showed severe damage to the layered distribution of vascular trunks in contrast to controls. A pathological course and marked variability in the density of the radial vessels were seen in the parieto-occipital areas, in which the neuroblast migration was most severely affected. These observations show the decisive role of neuroblast migration and maturation in the development of the cortical angioarchitecture.