title: A novel transverse expression domain in the mouse cerebellum revealed by a neurofilament-associated antigen.
abstract: The mammalian cerebellum is composed of a highly reproducible array of transverse zones, each of which is subdivided into parasagittal stripes. By using a combination of Purkinje cell antigenic markers and afferent tracing, four transverse zones have been identified: the anterior zone (AZ: approximately lobules I-V), the central zone (CZ: approximately lobules VI-VII), the posterior zone (PZ: approximately lobules VIII-dorsal IX) and the nodular zone (NZ: approximately ventral lobule IX+lobule X). Neurofilament-associated antigen (NAA) is an epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody, which is expressed strongly in association with neurofilaments. During perinatal cerebellar development, anti-NAA immunocytochemistry reveals novel features of cerebellar organization. In particular, the CZ is reproducibly subdivided into anterior and posterior components. Between embryonic day 17 and postnatal day 7 NAA immunoreactivity is expressed selectively by a parallel fiber bundle that is restricted to lobule VII, thereby distinguishing the CZ anterior (lobules VIa, b) from the CZ posterior (lobule VII). The novel restriction boundary at lobule VII/VIII, which is also reflected in the morphology of the external granular layer and aligns with a gap in the developing Purkinje cell layer, precedes the morphological appearance of the posterior superior fissure between lobules VIb and VII. In addition, afferent axons to the CZ terminate in an array of parasagittal stripes that is probably a specific climbing fiber projection. Thus, the transverse zone architecture of the mouse cerebellum is more complex than had previously been appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive Northwest, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marzban
authors.forename: C-T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doorn
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hawkes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D064026:Calbindins; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064026:Calbindins; D000939:Epitopes; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; C051774:neurofilament protein H