The fine structure of astrocytes in the adult staggerer.

The fine structure of the cerebella of staggerer mice was studied. Particular attention was paid to the astrocytic processes which showed characteristic changes in the adult animal. These consisted of parallel configurations of slender sheet-like astrocytic processes frequently connected to one another by highly organized intercellular adhesive devices. The abnormal condition seen in staggerer is an exaggerated expression of the fundamental tendency of the astrocyte to form sheet-like peripheral processes.