[Morphological study on development of nerve growth factor-positive neurons in the cerebellum of human fetus].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the growth and development of nerve growth factor (NGF)-positive neurons in the cerebellum of midanaphase human fetus.


METHODS
The expression of the NGF-positive neurons in the cerebrum of human fetus was observed by immunohistochemical methods, and the integral absorbance (IA) was detected.


RESULTS
By the 3rd to 4th month of gestation, neurons was seen in the ependymal, central, and marginal plate of cerebellum; the nucleus was oval and the neurons had short and small processes. By the 5th to 7th month of gestation, the number of NGF-positive neurons increased, the expressions enhanced, the nucleus was round-, oval-, or fusiform-shaped, the neurons grew larger in size, and the Purkinje cells showed NGF-positive expression. By the 8th to 10th month of gestation, the NGF-positive expression was enhanced with deeper dying, the body of Purkinje cells grew larger gradually, and the number of NGF-positive neurons in the granular cell layer and molecular layer increased. IA of the cerebellar cortical neurons of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th month of gestation showed an increasing trend, and significant difference was observed (P < 0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
NGF-positive neurons in the cerebellum play an important role for differentiation, proliferation, migration, and growth of neurons in the cerebellum.
Department of Pathology, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, China. zhenglr2001@yahoo.com.cn
Lan-Rong
LR
Zheng
Jin-Gui
JG
Shao
D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor