Golgi studies on Purkinje cell development in the frog during spontaneous metamorphosis. III. Axonal development.

The development and organization of Purkinje cell axons and their collaterals was studied in the bullfrog using the Golgi-Kopsch method. In the tadpole, axonal collaterals are few and usually unbranched. In the adult, however, intracortical axonal collaterals of Purkinje cells are more numerous, and they form a meager supraganglionic plexus and a more extensive infraganglionic plexus. In contrast to the pattern seen in higher vertebrates, these plexuses have a tendency to be distributed along the length of the cerebellar plate in both tadpoles and froglets. In addition, collateral branches that form intracortical plexuses apparently increase throughout the course of cerebellar development in this species.