Cerebellum of the adult reeler mutant mouse contains two Purkinje cell populations with respect to gene expression for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel.
Recent studies have identified five NMDA receptor subunits, which exhibit distinct cellular expressions in the normal rodent brain. The purpose of this investigation is to clarify the molecular-anatomical organization in the cerebellum of the reeler mutant mouse, in which various categories of the Purkinje cells are present as to the cell position and synaptic connectivity. In comparison with the distribution of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor mRNA, a molecular marker specific to the Purkinje cells, the epsilon 1 subunit mRNA of the NMDA receptor channel was found in the adjacent sections to be expressed in a subset of the Purkinje cells. In the rostrocaudal extent, the Purkinje cells expressing the epsilon 1 subunit mRNA were distributed preferentially in the rostral cerebellum, irrespective of the normal and heterotopic positions. In the mediolateral extent, they formed segregated cell clusters, interposed by epsilon 1 subunit mRNA-negative clusters. Hybridizing signals for the zeta 1 subunit mRNA were found in all the Purkinje cell population, whereas those for the epsilon 2, epsilon 3, and epsilon 4 subunit mRNAs were not detected in the cells. These findings suggest that the reeler cerebellum is topographically compartmentalized by two subpopulations of the Purkinje cells, one expressing the epsilon 1 and zeta 1 subunit mRNAs, and the other expressing the zeta 1 subunit mRNA alone.
D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate