Neuronal degeneration in the brain of the brindled mouse. Histochemical demonstration of decreased cytochrome oxidase activity in the cerebellum and brain stem.

In order to investigate the levels of cytochrome oxidase activity in neuronal mitochondria in the brain of the brindled mouse hemizygote (BM), the cerebella and brain stems from 12 pairs of brindled and normal littermates aged 13-16 days were examined. The diaminobenzidine method for light- and electronmicroscopic histochemistry was adopted. Light microscopy revealed that mitochondria in the normal cerebellum showed an intensely positive reaction to diaminobenzidine, whereas those in the BM cerebellum showed a very weak reaction indicating an evident reduction of cytochrome oxidase activity. Electron microscopy disclosed a diaminobenzidine-OsO4 product densely appearing on the inner membranes of most mitochondria in Purkinje cells in the normal cerebellum. However, it was very faint or absent in those in the BM cerebellum. The same was true in Golgi II cells, granule cells, glomeruli and brain stem nuclei, but the degree of reduction was not uniform among these structures. In conclusion, there is not only a generalized reduction of cytochrome oxidase activity but also a topographical predilection of areas showing a reduction of the enzyme in the BM cerebellum and brain stem. These facts may explain the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in the brain of the BM.