Abstract
Extract: In order to establish the pattern of cellular growth, nucleic acid and protein content were serially determined in 31 human brains. The eraliest-material was obtained from a fetus with a gestational age of 13 weeks; the latest from a 13-month-old infant. Weight, protein, and RNA content increased linearly during this period. Weight increased from 5 g to 970 g, protein from 193 mg to 53 g, and RNA from 18.5 to 1384 mg. In contrast, increase in DNA content began to level off at about the time of birth and reached a maximum (approximately 900 mg) by five months of age. These data indicate that very little cell division occurs in the human brain after five months of age and that further growth occurs by increase in protein, RNA and, perhaps, lipid content of cells.
Speculation: The finding in this study indicate that cell division in the human brain appears to continue until five months of age ceases thereafter. Further growth in by increase in protein. RNA and lipid content per cell. Data obtained from animals indicate that the brain is most sensitive to certain stimuli during the period of active cell division. In the human, cell division occurs during all of prenatal life and the first five months of postnatal life. It is possible that adverse eivironmental factors such as malnutrition and anoxia may be most deleterious during this period.
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Winick, M. Changes in Nucleic Acid and Protein Content of the Human Brain During Growth. Pediatr Res 2, 352–355 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-196809000-00003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-196809000-00003
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