Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of the cerebellum from the reeler mutant mouse.

The organization of the fiber connections and architecture of the cerebellum of reeler mutant mice was analyzed by an immunohistochemical and histochemical procedure. By immunohistochemical staining of the myelinated fiber arborization with antiserum against myelin basic protein, it was found in the reeler cerebellum that the fibers ran in all directions throughout the white matter. Some of the fibers surrounded Purkinje cells. The distribution of AChE-positive fibers was abnormal and some Purkinje cells surrounded by AChE-positive fibers were present. Molecular layers and glomeruli showed strong succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. The white matter of the reeler cerebellum showed a mosaic of SDH-positive and -negative sites. The results indicate that changes in the distribution of myelinated fiber arborization and the change in the distribution of SDH and AChE activity are different in each part of the cerebellum as a result of the disorganization of the architecture of the reeler mutation.