Skip to main content
Log in

Regional differences in the distribution of golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex of man and some other mammals

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The number of Golgi cells per unit volume was determined in different regions of the cerebellar cortex of man and of ten other mammals. Despite the general belief in the uniform architecture of the cerebellar cortex, regional differences in the distribution of Golgi cells were found. In the inferior parts of the vermis, the number of Golgi cells per unit volume is twice that in the corresponding hemispheres. In addition, there are differences between the anterior and inferior parts of the vermis. These differences are a feature of the cytoarchitecture of the cerebellum in man and all the investigated mammals. The ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells was also determined and found to differ in different species. In man, this ratio is 1∶1.5, while in the monkey and cat it is almost 1∶1.9 and in the rat 1∶3.3. These differences in the ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells are discussed from the point of view of cerebellar evolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Braak, H.: On the intermediate cells of Lugaro within the cerebellar cortex of man. A Pigment-architectonic study. Cell Tiss. Res. 149, 399–411 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodal, A., Drabløs, P. A.: Two types of mossy fiber terminals in the cerebellum and their regional distribution. J. comp. Neurol. 121, 173–188 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bubenaite, J.: Über einige Erfahrungen mit der Golgi-Methode. Z. wiss. Mikr. 46, 359–360 (1929)

    Google Scholar 

  • Csillik, B., Joo, F., Kasa, P.: Cholinesterase activity of archicerebellar mossy fibre apparatuses J. Histochem. Cytochem. 11, 113–114 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Floderus, S.: Untersuchungen über den Bau der menschlichen Hypophyse mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der quantitativen mikro-morphologischen Verhältnisse. Acta path. microbiol scand. Suppl. 53, 276 pp. (1944)

  • Haug, H.: Über die exakte Feststellung der Anzahl der Nervenzellen pro Volumeneinheit des Cortex cerebri, zugleich ein Beispiel für die Durchführung genauer Zählungen. Acta anat. (Basel) 67, 53–73 (1967a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haug, H.: Probleme und Methoden der Strukturzählung im Schnittpräparat. In: Quantitative methods in morphology. Quantitative Methoden in der Morphologie (E. R. Weibel and H. Elias, ed.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967b

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito, S., Winchester, R. J.: The fine structure of the gastric mucosa in the bat. J. Cell Biol. 16, 541–577 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakob, A.: Das Kleinhirn. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen. Hrsg.: W. von Möllendorff, ed Bd. IV, Teil 1, S. 674–916. Berlin: Springer 1928

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, J., Brodal, A.: Das Kleinhirn. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, Bd. IV, 8, S. 1–323 (ed. W. Bargmann). Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1958

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasa, P.: Electron histochemical evidence of different types of mossy fibre endings in the cerebellar cortex. Experientia (Basel) 25, 740–741 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Korneliussen, H. K.: On the ontogenetic development of the cerebellum (nuclei, fissures, and cortex) of the rat, with special reference to regional variations in corticogenesis. J. Hirnforsch. 10, 379–413 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Korneliussen, H. K.: Cerebellar organization in the light of cerebellar nuclear morphology and cerebellar corticogenesis. In: Neurobiology of cerebellar evolution and development (R. Llinas, ed.). Chicago: American Medical Association Education & Research Foundation 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Landau, E.: Über cytoarchitektonische Bauunterschiede in der Körnerschicht der Kleinhirnrinde. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 87, 551–557 (1928)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange, W.: Regionale Unterschiede in der Cytoarchitektonik der Kleinhirnrinde bei Mensch, Rhesusaffe und Katze. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 138, 329–346 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange, W.: The cell number and cell density in the cerebellar cortex of man and some other mammals. (In preparation)

  • Mugnaini, E.: The histology and cytology of the cerebellar cortex. In: The comparative anatomy and histology of the cerebellum. The human cerebellum, cerebellar connections, and cerebellar cortex (eds. Larsell, O. Jansen, J.), p. 201–264. Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Palay, S., Chan-Palay, V.: Cerebellar cortex. Cytology and organization. Berlin-HeidelbergNew York: Springer 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Palkovîts, M., Magyar, P., Szentagothai, J.: Quantitative histological analysis of the cerebellar cortex in the cat. I. Number and arrangement in space of the Purkinje cells. Brain Res. 32, 1–13 (1971a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palkovits, M., Magyar, P., Szentagothai, J.: Quantitative histological analysis of the cerebellar cortex in the cat. III. Cell numbers and densities in the granular layer. Brain Res. 32, 15–30 (1971b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parma, A.: Sur la taille des corps cellulaires des cellules de Purkinje dans le paleocerebellum et le neocerebellum de quelques mammifères, y compris l'homme. Acta anat. (Basel), Suppl. 56, 337–346 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parma, A., Baldini, P.: Sulla grandezza dei pirenofori delle cellule del Purkinje in zone della corteccia cerebellare di diversa origine filogenetica. Arch. ital. anat. Embriol. 74, 177–187 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Romeis, B.: Mikroskopische Technik. München-Wien: Oldenbourg 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, T. G.: A unique pattern of localization within the cerebellum. Nature (Lond.) 200, 793 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spacek, J., Parizek, J., Lieberman, R.: Golgi cells, granule cells and synaptic glomeruli in the molecular layer of the rabbit cerebellar cortex. J. Neurocytol. 2, 407–428 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Voogd, J.: Comparative aspects of the structure and fibre connections of the mammalian cerebellum. Progr. in Brain Res. 25, 94–134 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lange, W. Regional differences in the distribution of golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex of man and some other mammals. Cell Tissue Res. 153, 219–226 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226610

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226610

Key words

Navigation