Anatomy and Embryology

, Volume 149, Issue 1, pp 87–112 | Cite as

Early terminal degeneration of cerebellar climbing fibers after destruction of the inferior oliver in the rat. Synaptic relationships in the molecular layer

  • Jean C. Desclin
Article
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Summary

The cerebellar molecular layer in adult rats has been studied with the electron microscope at several early and consecutive survival times following 3-acetylpyridine intoxication. Climbing fiber (CF) terminals underwent a fast process of electron-dense degeneration which became apparent from 16 hours onwards. A small proportion of degenerating terminals were depleted of vesicles and filled with a dark flocculent and granular homogeneous matrix. Microtubular changes in degenerating CF tendrils were observed. CF terminals were found in relation with every Purkinje cell in normal animals and completely disappeared within 72 hours after the treatment. CF synapses were found on Purkinje dendritic and somatic thorns, sometimes also on the dendritic shafts or even on the Purkinje soma. Convincing evidence of synaptic contacts of CF varicosities on either basket or stellate cells could not be obtained. CF synapses with Golgi II cell dendrites in the molecular layer were described. Decrease in the number of post-synaptic dendritic thorns normally assigned fo CF synapses was observed consequential to CF anterograde degeneration. The observations are consistent with previous conclusions drawn from light microscopic studies that the clearing up of CF debris in the molecular layer is completed within the short time of three days, and that the inferior olive seems to be the only source of CFs.

Key words

Cerebellar cortex Cytology Climbing fibers Anterograde degeneration Interneurons 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jean C. Desclin
    • 1
  1. 1.Laboratoire d'Histologie, Faculté de MédecineUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium

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