The mammalian prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the cerebral cortex area involved in
processing several functions as cognition and complex motor control for social
interactions. In this PFC area, there is no duration of the time window definition about
its critical period of plasticity. One of the potential biological markers for this may be
the Perineuronal Nets (PNNs). The present work aimed to examine the developmental
time course of PNN formation focusing on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats
using histochemistry with Vicia villosa agglutinin. We use 21 male rats Rattus
novergicus, wistar lineage, which were randomly divided into seven experimental
groups, composed of 3 animals in each group, as follows: group at 7, 14, 20, 26, 58,
75, and 135 postnatal days, respectively. We found that in PFC, PNNs appear at P26
with a small number of Vv+ cells, increasing in total numbers until adulthood. The
results of the present study demosntrate the temporal development of PNN formation
in the Wistar rats mPFC, and we suggest a time window for the end of the critical period
of plasticity in this cortical area (26- 75 postnatal days), there is a progressive decrease
in PNNs with immature profile and a concomitant increase in mature PNNs during
postnatal development of the mPFC, making this PNNs profile more prevalent at more
advanced ages, around 3 months of age, when the animals are already considered
young adults.
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