Connections of the cerebellar grains with neuroglial and vascular structures. Interpretation of the grain as a modified neuroglial element.
Using the slightly modified method of Golgi-Valenzuela we studied the cerebellum of 2-week-old dogs. We noted a close anatomical relationship between the cerebellar grains and blood vessels. We found this similar to those of other neuroglial elements. We have described contacts between dendrites of the grains, similar to those of known synaptic junctions. We consider the cerebellar grains as a possible evolutionary form of astrocytes. In this respect, the author would like to interpret them as a possible basis for pathogenetic interpretation of neurological disorders such as ataxia-telangiectasia syndrome, an ontogenic bond between undifferentiated blood elements, astroglia, oligodendroglia and cerebellar grains.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D003712:Dendrites; D004285:Dogs; D009420:Nervous System; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology