Transient expression of neurofilament protein without filament formation in purkinje cell development Immunohistological and electron microscopic study of chicken cerebellum.

Purkinje cell bodies and dendrites in the chick embryo stained intensely by immunofluorescence and by the Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) method using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the neurofilament (NF) proteins. On day 20 (the day before hatching) NF immunoreactivity markedly decreased concomitant with the first appearance of NF-positive basket axons in the molecular and Purkinje cell layers. On postnatal day 3, as in mature avian cerebellum, NF-negative Purkinje cells were surrounded by NF-positive baskets. Cytoplasmic 10 nm filaments were not observed in immature and mature Purkinje cells by electron microscopy. Basket axons in the hen were packed with 10 nm filaments.