Biomaterial Database

Alterations in the postnatal development of the cerebellar cortex due to zinc deficiency. II. Impaired maturation of Purkinje cells. 1984

C L Dvergsten, and G J Fosmire, and D A Ollerich, and H H Sandstead

Zinc deficiency during the first 3 postnatal weeks retarded the maturation of Purkinje cells. The dendrites of the Purkinje cells of 21-day-old zinc-deficient (ZD) rats were reduced in size and had fewer branches. Somatic processes were found in 24% of the Purkinje cells of ZD animals. Only 3% of the Purkinje cells of normal animals had somatic processes. A basal polysomal mass in the Purkinje cells of 21-day-old ZD rats indicated that zinc deficiency impaired the cytoplasmic maturation of Purkinje cells. The development of the glial envestment of the dendrites and the maturation of climbing fibers also were retarded. Pair-fed controls were studied to control for the effects of inanition in the ZD dams. In the pups of pair-fed dams, undernutrition slightly impaired the growth of the dendrites but produced few qualitative changes in the maturation of the soma and climbing fibers. Somatic processes were found on 10% of the Purkinje cells of pair-fed animals. Thus, the findings in the ZD animals were not only caused by the decreased maternal food consumption but by zinc deficiency. The retarded maturation of Purkinje cells was related to the altered metabolism of Purkinje cells and to effects secondary to decreased numbers of parallel fibers.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
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
D011689	Purkinje Cells	The output neurons of the cerebellar cortex.	Purkinje Cell,Purkinje Neuron,Purkyne Cell,Cell, Purkinje,Cell, Purkyne,Cells, Purkinje,Cells, Purkyne,Neuron, Purkinje,Neurons, Purkinje,Purkinje Neurons,Purkyne Cells
D002525	Cerebellar Cortex	The superficial GRAY MATTER of the CEREBELLUM. It consists of two main layers, the stratum moleculare and the stratum granulosum.	Cortex Cerebelli,Cerebelli, Cortex,Cerebellus, Cortex,Cortex Cerebellus,Cortex, Cerebellar
D003712	Dendrites	Extensions of the nerve cell body. They are short and branched and receive stimuli from other NEURONS.	Dendrite
D000375	Aging	The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time.	Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
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
D015032	Zinc	A metallic element of atomic number 30 and atomic weight 65.38. It is a necessary trace element in the diet, forming an essential part of many enzymes, and playing an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with ANEMIA, short stature, HYPOGONADISM, impaired WOUND HEALING, and geophagia. It is known by the symbol Zn.
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus