title: Natural loss of Purkinje cells during development and increased loss with alcohol.
abstract: In untreated rats, degenerating Purkinje cells (P cells) were present from the 20th day of embryonic life (E20) to post-natal day 14 (PN14), but none was present on E17 or PN15. Ethanol increased the loss of P cells both before birth and up to PN6 or 8, but from PN10 no increased loss was seen. Most degenerating P cells were located below the P cell line. On PN3 ethanol killed some P cells in 12 h, and the first ultrastructural change was a dilatation of the nuclear double membrane after 8 h. Among the surviving P cells, natural cell death continued. Pentothal anesthesia on PN3 did not damage P cells. Exposure to ethanol from E12 to PN5 resulted in a large loss of P cells and retarded the foliation of the cerebellum.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011247:Pregnancy; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol