[Change in the staining properties of pyriform neurocytes in the mouse cerebellum during protein-calorie deficiency and subsequent rehabilitation].

Quantitative analysis has been carried out on semithin sections of cerebellum cortex to investigate the relation between Purkinje cells with different dyeing properties. The number of dark Purkinje cells was found to increase after a month-long food rehabilitation of ill-fed mice. At the same time addition of carnitine to the mouse food has resulted in a significant decline in the number of dark Purkinje cells, as compared to control animals. The data obtained suggest that the rising number of dark Purkinje cells in the cerebellum cortex under conditions of malnutrition is probably due to the increased intracellular accumulation of free fatty acids.