Astroglia and microglia in cerebellar neuronal migration disturbances

Between the neuronal and glial cells there is a close relationship conditioning a tight morphological correlation and proper functional interplay. Disturbed interaction between glial and neuronal components leads to inappropriate neural circuits. The reflection of the failure of neural circuit organisation is the picture of morphological changes of neurons and glia. The appearance of microglia and astroglia was analysed in a defectively formed cellular network due to cerebellar neuronal migration disturbances. Focal disruption of neuron migration leads to their differentiation in an abnormal position manifested as heterotopias and cortical anomalies. Neurons that had lost their proper migratory way and heterotopically settled in the white matter were encircled by GFAP-positive astrocytes, with morphology appropriate for surrounding white matter. The microglial cells infiltrated the parenchyma within the heterotopic neurons playing a role in their elimination. In the cerebellar cortical malformations astrocytes were grouped near the Purkinje cells. In the minimal cortical dysplasia the increased number of astrocytes supported the neurons. Impaired morphological components of the glial-pial barrier were observed. In the massive cortical malformations a few degenerated astrocytes followed the disarranged Purkinje cells, while microglia and Bergmann glia fibres were not present. Absence of cells supporting and organizing the cerebellar cortex had an effect on loss of Purkinje cell shape, their disorientation and abnormal position. The appearance and localisation of the astroglia and microglia in the abnormal cerebellar circuitry due to migration disturbances is dependent on the pathomechanism of the anomalies.