Histopathological study on cerebellar dysgenesis of shaking rat Kawasaki (SRK).

The cerebellum of shaking rat Kawasaki (SRK) was studied histochemically and immunocytochemically. The cerebellar cortex was characterized by a delay in the disappearance of the external granular layer, a narrow molecular layer, a narrow and cell sparse internal granular layer, and disarranged and heterotopically situated Purkinje cells with tortuous arborization and a large cell cluster in the depths of the cerebellum. Golgi-Cox staining revealed an abnormal ramification and polarity of ectopic Purkinje cells. Ultrastructurally, most spines of Purkinje cells in the depths remained naked. Based on these results, it is suggested that the genetically determined mechanisms responsible for the abnormal structure in the cerebellar cortex of SRK may include a migratory disorder of the Purkinje cells, and a decrease in the microneurons with a resulting decrease of synaptic contacts on the Purkinje cell soma and dendrite.