title: Zebrin II / aldolase C expression in the cerebellum of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).
abstract: Aldolase C, also known as Zebrin II (ZII), is a glycolytic enzyme that is expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells of the vertebrate cerebellum. In both mammals and birds, ZII is expressed heterogeneously, such that there are sagittal stripes of Purkinje cells with high ZII expression (ZII+), alternating with stripes of Purkinje cells with little or no expression (ZII-). The patterns of ZII+ and ZII- stripes in the cerebellum of birds and mammals are strikingly similar, suggesting that it may have first evolved in the stem reptiles. In this study, we examined the expression of ZII in the cerebellum of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). In contrast to birds and mammals, the cerebellum of the rattlesnake is much smaller and simpler, consisting of a small, unfoliated dome of cells. A pattern of alternating ZII+ and ZII- sagittal stripes cells was not observed: rather all Purkinje cells were ZII+. This suggests that ZII stripes have either been lost in snakes or that they evolved convergently in birds and mammals.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9.
authors.forename: Joel W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Aspden
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3E 6K6.
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9; Lehrstuhl für Zoologie, Technische Universität München, Liesel-Beckmann Straße 4, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
authors.forename: Cristian I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Ibanez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Genes and Development Research Group, and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4N1.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, T1K 3M4.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Iwaniuk
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Zoologie, Technische Universität München, Liesel-Beckmann Straße 4, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9.
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wylie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism*; D017839:Crotalus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C071871:zebrin II; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase