The
reeler mouse is an autosomal recessive mutant mouse caused by mutation of the
reelin gene and characterized by cerebellar ataxia. To determine whether the distribution pattern of precerebellar nuclei neurons in the brainstem of the
reeler mouse changes, we injected a small volume of a replication-defective recombinant adenovirus carrying
E. coli β-galactosidase (lacZ) into the cerebellar cortex of normal and
reeler mice. Five days later, the mice were transcardially perfused by a fixative solution. X-gal staining of coronal or sagittal sections of the brainstem revealed that many origins for reticulocerebellar, cuneocerebellar, trigeminocerebellar, and pontocerebellar projections were retrogradely labeled, but only a few olivocerebellar neurons were labeled. Retrogradely labeled neurons in the lateral reticular nucleus tended to locate more laterally and be more condensed into a small compartment in the
reeler compared with their normal counterparts. Retrogradely labeled neurons in the external cuneate nucleus were more dorsally shifted in the
reeler mice compared with their normal counterparts. We could not find any differences between the normal and
reeler mice in the distribution patterns of their trigeminocerebellar projection neurons. Retrogradely labeled pontocerebellar neurons in the basilar pons of the
reeler mouse were reduced in number compared with their normal counterparts in addition to being more ventrally and laterally shifted. These findings strongly suggest that the migration of some precerebellar nuclei neurons from the rhombic lip to their final loci may be obstructed in the
reeler mice.
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