The morphology of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus in normal and reeler mice. 1979

B B Stanfield, and W M Cowan

The morphology of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus in normal and reeler mice has been studied in Nissl, myelin, Golgi, Timm's sulfide silver and gold chloride-sublimate preparations. It is evident from both cell-and fiber-stained sections that despite the obvious defect in the positioning of the hippocampal pyramidal and dentate granule cells in the reeler mouse within the radial dimension, the hippocampal formation as a whole shows a normal and consistent progression of cytoarchitectonic fields along its transverse axis, and a normal and consistent progression of changes in the structure of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus along their longitudinal axes. Thus, at least in these structures, the reeler gene seems to exert its effect only in the radial dimension. Cell counts in the area dentata indicate that the number of dentate granule cells in the reeler mouse is reduced compared to that found in normal or heterozygous animals. Although it has been known for some time that the number of granule cells in the reeler cerebellar cortex is markedly reduced, this appears to be the first evidence for a reduction in cell number in a forebrain structure. All the major cell types normally found in the hippocampus and the dentate gyrus are recognizable in Golgi-stained preparations from the brains of reeler mutants. However, in both regions there are a number of abnormalities in the appearance of the cells which seem to be related to the cellular ectopia. Thus, whereas most of the pyramidal and granule cells which attain a normal position in the mutant usually have normal, or near-normal dendritic arbors, the dendrites of nearly all ectopic cells are severely distorted, both in their orientation and general configuration. In preparations stained by the Timm's sulfide silver technique it is evident that the general lamination pattern seen in normal mice is retained in the reeler hippocampus and dentate gyrus despite the gross malpositioning of many of the relevant neurons. However, although the overall laminar arrangement is preserved, there are some fairly consistent abnormalities; for example, the normal trilaminar staining pattern seen in the stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus is replaced in the reeler by a bilaminar pattern. In gold chloride-sublimate impregnated preparations there is no obvious alignment of the astrocytes in the stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus in either normal or reeler mice. Moreover, the distribution of the astrocytes within this zone is fairly normal in the reeler mouse, although, in general, these cells appear to be more consistently stellate in form than in normal animals.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008818 Mice, Neurologic Mutants Mice which carry mutant genes for neurologic defects or abnormalities. Lurcher Mice,Nervous Mice,Reeler Mice,Staggerer Mice,Weaver Mice,Chakragati Mice,Chakragati Mouse,Lurcher Mouse,Mice, Neurological Mutants,Mouse, Neurologic Mutant,Mouse, Neurological Mutant,Nervous Mouse,Neurologic Mutant Mice,Neurological Mutant Mouse,Reeler Mouse,Staggerer Mouse,Weaver Mouse,ckr Mutant Mice,Mice, Chakragati,Mice, Lurcher,Mice, Nervous,Mice, Neurologic Mutant,Mice, Reeler,Mice, Staggerer,Mice, Weaver,Mice, ckr Mutant,Mouse, Chakragati,Mouse, Lurcher,Mouse, Nervous,Mouse, Reeler,Mouse, Staggerer,Mouse, Weaver,Mutant Mice, Neurologic,Mutant Mice, ckr,Mutant Mouse, Neurologic,Neurologic Mutant Mouse
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002452 Cell Count The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample. Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D006579 Heterozygote An individual having different alleles at one or more loci regarding a specific character. Carriers, Genetic,Genetic Carriers,Carrier, Genetic,Genetic Carrier,Heterozygotes
D006624 Hippocampus A curved elevation of GRAY MATTER extending the entire length of the floor of the TEMPORAL HORN of the LATERAL VENTRICLE (see also TEMPORAL LOBE). The hippocampus proper, subiculum, and DENTATE GYRUS constitute the hippocampal formation. Sometimes authors include the ENTORHINAL CORTEX in the hippocampal formation. Ammon Horn,Cornu Ammonis,Hippocampal Formation,Subiculum,Ammon's Horn,Hippocampus Proper,Ammons Horn,Formation, Hippocampal,Formations, Hippocampal,Hippocampal Formations,Hippocampus Propers,Horn, Ammon,Horn, Ammon's,Proper, Hippocampus,Propers, Hippocampus,Subiculums
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001253 Astrocytes A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury. Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

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