Histochemistry of glycogen deposition in perinatal rat brain: importance of radial glial cells.

Changes in the glycogen content and patterns of deposition in the developing rat brain were studied using a light microscopic periodic acid-Schiff method on embryonic days (ED) 14, 16, 18, 20 and postnatal days (PD) 1, 3, 7, 12, 16 and 21. Regional and temporal differences were quantified with an automatic image analyser by estimation of stained material in subpial regions of cerebral cortex, thalamus, superior colliculus and medulla. The cellular localization of glycogen particles was investigated by electron microscopy on ED 18, ED 20 and PD 2. On ED 14 the first signs of glycogen storage were found in parts of the immature choroid plexus and in radial glial cells in the midbrain and medullary raphé. With advancing foetal age these structures retained their high capacity for glycogen storage but, in addition, an increasing number of radial fibres in most of the brain stem regions and in the cerebral cortex of older foetuses (ED 18-20) showed significant amounts of glycogen. The storage of glycogen in cerebral cortex was relatively low at all foetal age intervals studied. In new born animals the distribution of glycogen particles was similar to that found in the late foetal brain. A decrease of glycogen content commenced from PD 1 to 3 and reached the pattern of the adult brain between PD 7 and 21. Glycogen storage by radial glial cells in the developing rat brain might indicate their possible role as an energy source in perinatal carbohydrate metabolism.