Quantitative studies in ageing Chbb:THOM (Wistar) rats. II. Neuron numbers in lobules I, VIb + c and X.

In 6- to 34-month-old Chbb:THOM (Wistar) rats, Purkinje, stellate/basket, granule and large Golgi cells exhibited neither sex-specific differences nor an age-related decrease in their total number. Cell density of granule cells decreased with advancing age and is regarded as an unreliable parameter for the estimation of total cell number unless individual shrinkage factors, protracted growth of the granular layer, and regional differences are taken into account as well. Regional differences were found in the number of granule, stellate/basket and large Golgi cells in relation to Purkinje cells. Differences in the physiology of local cerebellar circuits are expected from these numerical differences.