Olfactory bulb maturation in Acomys cahirinus: is neural growth similar in precocial and altricial murids?

Olfactory bulb maturation was assessed in the precocial murid Acomys cahirinus by quantifying developmental changes in laminar volume and glomerular and mitral cell size. At the time of birth (38 days postconception), the Acomys bulb is in a developmental state similar to that of altricial murids of the same gestational age. Rapid growth occurs in Acomys during the first 10 postnatal days with more gradual changes occurring thereafter. Altricial murids also exhibit accelerated bulb development in early postnatal period, but growth rates have declined by 38 days after conception. These results suggest that maturation is not similar in precocial and altricial murids and that rapid postnatal development is a necessary feature of murid brain development.