Embryonic cerebellar graft development during acute phase of gliosis in the cerebellum of pcd mutant mice.
Anatomical and biochemical changes in cerebellum after the onset of pcd gene defects have revealed in addition to Purkinje cell degeneration, the occurrence of secondary degenerative events in granule neurons, neurons of the inferior olivary complex and deep cerebellar nuclei. Transplantation in young mutant animals thereby presents a prospect that not only the missing Purkinje cells may be replaced but the subsequent transneuronal losses may be minimized. The present study has evaluated the outcome of implanting embryonic cerebellar cell suspensions into pcd mutants at the age of 45 day-old, a stage marked by the end of Purkinje cell degeneration. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was used to monitor the extent of gliosis in host cerebellum and to trace the development of embryonic Purkinje cells grafted. The results suggest that the donor cells have no apparent difficulty in survival during reactive gliosis. Migration of these neuroblasts from the grafted zone into adjacent host molecular layer and significant expression of calcium binding protein (CaBP) by grafted Purkinje cells were noted within 9 days after transplantation. Dendritic patterns of grafted Purkinje cells are well-developed by day 17 post transplantation up to 3 months. In addition, synaptic contacts between host fiber endings and the CaBP-positive dendritic spines are present in the molecular layer of folia containing the graft, suggesting synaptic integration between graft and host.
Chang
A C
AC
Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Ghetti
B
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000637:transplantation*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005911:Gliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein