CHANGES IN AMOUNT OF COLCHICINE-BINDING PROTEIN (TUBULIN) IN RABBIT BRAIN DURING DEVELOPMENT

Colchicine binding was used as a measure of the levels of microtubule protein (tubulin) in several regions of rabbit brain during postnatal development. All regions studied showed a decrease in tubulin per mg of total protein; however, each region showed an increase in total tubulin from 1 day of age to adulthood. The net change in tubulin during development coincided with a proliferation of dendrites (which are rich in microtubules) and a decrease in microtubules from spindle apparatus, axons and astrocytes. We suggest that the total amount of tubulin changes in response to demands of the maturing brain cell for microtubules with different functional roles.