title: Purkinje cell heterotopy with cerebellar hypoplasia in two free-living American kestrels (Falco sparverius).
abstract: Two wild fledgling kestrels exhibited lack of motor coordination, postural reaction deficits, and abnormal propioception. At necropsy, the cerebellum and brainstem were markedly underdeveloped. Microscopically, there was Purkinje cells heterotopy, abnormal circuitry, and hypoplasia with defective foliation. Heterotopic neurons were identified as immature Purkinje cells by their size, location, immunoreactivity for calbindin D-28 K, and ultrastructural features. The authors suggest that this cerebellar abnormality was likely due to a disruption of molecular mechanisms that dictate Purkinje cell migration, placement, and maturation in early embryonic development. The etiology of this condition remains undetermined. Congenital central nervous system disorders have rarely been reported in birds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. armie00l@umn.edu
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Armién
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McRuer
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ruder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wünschmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000473:pathology; D046093:Falconiformes; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure