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Histochemical studies on the “dark” and “light” cells of the cerebellum of rat

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Summary

The distribution of mitochondria, DNA, RNA, phospholipid and other chemical substances in the cerebellum of the rat have been studied. Mitochondria in the Purkinje cells show a variety of distributions — in some cells they are concentrated around the nucleus and in others spread through the cytoplasm. In the former case the nucleolus is in contact with the nuclear membrane. Purkinje cells appear to go through a series of metabolic cycles similar to those described in the spinal ganglion cells. Phospholipid reactions are most intense in the white matter. Various types of lipid positive nerves can also be seen in the granular layer, and lipid granules can be seen in the glomeruli.

RNA preparations show prominent cytoplasmic staining in the Purkinje cells and nucleoli. In some cells there was a aggregation of RNA around the nucleus. The nuclei of the cells of the molecular layer gave no reaction either for DNA or RNA. DNA was frequently found to the peripherally located in the nucleus of various cells.

All these results are discussed in detail.

Zusammenfassunng

Im Kleinhirn der Ratte wird die Verteilung von Mitochondrien, DNA, RNA, Phosphorlipoiden und anderen chemischen Substanzen untersucht. Die Mitochondrien der Purkinje-Zellen zeigen eine wechselnde Verteilung — in manchen Zellen sind sie um den Kern konzentriert, in anderen im Cytoplasma verstreut. Im ersteren Fall steht der Nucleolus im Kontakt mit der Kernmembran. Die Purkinje-Zellen scheinen in eine Reihe von Stoffwechselcyclen, ähnlich denen, die in den Spinalganglionzellen beschrieben wurden, einbezogen zu sein. Die Phosphorlipoidreaktionen sind in der weißen Substanz stärker. Auch in der Körnerschicht kann man verschiedene Arten von Lipoid-positiven Nervenfasern sehen; ferner Lipoidkörnchen in den Glomeruli.

RNA-Präparate zeigen eine hervortretende Färbung des Cytoplasmas der Purkinje-Zellen und der Nucleoli. In manchen Zellen besteht eine Anhäufung von RNA um den Kern. Die Kerne der Zellen der Molekularschicht geben weder auf DNA noch auf RNA eine Reaktion. DNA kann häufig im Kern verschiedener Zellen in peripherer Lokalisation gefunden werden.

All diese Ergebnisse werden im einzelnen diskutiert.

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  1. Department of Anatomy, Emory University, Atlanta 22, Georgia, USA

    H. B. Tewari & G. H. Bourne

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  1. H. B. Tewari
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Tewari, H.B., Bourne, G.H. Histochemical studies on the “dark” and “light” cells of the cerebellum of rat. Acta Neuropathol 3, 1–15 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684015

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