Purkinje cell loss accompanies motor impairment in rats developing at altered gravity.
We have previously reported that the developmental exposure of rats to altered gravity (1.65 g) from gestational day 8 to postnatal day 21 impacts motor functions and cerebellar structure. The present study examined whether the decrease in cerebellar mass accompanied by impaired performance on a rotorod in hypergravity-exposed rats was related to a decrease in Purkinje cell number. The total number of Purkinje cells was determined on postnatal day 21 using a stereological analysis applied to paraformaldehyde-fixed cerebellar samples subsequently embedded in celloidin. Total Purkinje cell number was decreased by 17.7-25.3%. These results imply that exposure to altered gravity during Purkinje cell birth may affect their proliferation, resulting in a decrease in Purkinje cell number, which, in turn, leads to motor impairment.
Sajdel-Sulkowska
Elizabeth M
EM
Deparment of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 021115, USA. Esulkowska@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Nguon
Kosal
K
Sulkowski
Zachary L
ZL
Rosen
Glenn D
GD
Baxter
Mark G
MG
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018470:Gravity, Altered / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley