Morphology, Vol 144, No 4 (2013)

Morphological characteristics of the serotoninergic neurons forming nucleus raphe obscurus (NRO), were studied in rats at the early stages (days 5, 10, 12 and 14) of the postnatal period in normal rats and in animals whose prenatal development took place under the conditions of serotonin deficiency. NRO was found to contain three subpopulations serotonin-producing neurons (large, medium and small), which had different sensitivity to serotonin level during development. The results have shown that serotoninergic system deficiency during the prenatal period resulted in the changes of NRO structural organization and in the decrease of the rate of this nucleus formation, serotonin-producing neurons differentiation and the reduction of their total number by approximately a factor of 1.6. At the same time, the significant changes of the dimensions of serotoninergic neurons of all types took place. In control animals, the size of large, medium and small neurons was 1.8, 1.4 and 1.5 times greater than that in experimental animals, respectively. Reduction of the neuron dimensions was associated with the changes of a nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio. The volume of the cytoplasm and of Nissl bodies was significantly decreased. Along with it, the cell destruction was noted that increased with age. Synchronously with it, the marked astrocytic reaction developed, which could further lead to gliosis.