Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
10:02
Ex Vivo Culture of Chick Cerebellar Slices and Spatially Targeted Electroporation of Granule Cell Precursors
Published on: December 14, 2015
From germinal matrix to cerebellar haemorrhage
Monica Fumagalli1, Laura Bassi1, Ida Sirgiovanni1
1a NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy and.
Summary
Cerebellar development in preterm infants, especially concerning germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage, is now better understood. Advanced imaging reveals cerebellar lesions impacting long-term motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Cerebellar development post-preterm birth has been understudied, often neglecting germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH).
- The cerebellum is particularly vulnerable between 23 and 27 weeks gestation due to rapid volume growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebellar development in preterm infants, considering GMH-IVH.
- To explore the cerebellum's role in long-term motor, cognitive, learning, and behavioral functions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized advanced neuroimaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Employed various acoustic windows (mastoid fontanelle, occipital foramen) for in vivo diagnosis.
- Focused on very preterm infants.
Main Results:
- Enabled in vivo diagnosis of acquired focal hemorrhagic lesions in the cerebellum of very preterm infants.
- Identified specific gestational ages (23-27 weeks) of heightened cerebellar vulnerability.
- Highlighted the rapid cerebellar volume increase during this period compared to overall brain growth.
Conclusions:
- Advanced imaging facilitates the study of cerebellar injury in preterm neonates.
- Cerebellar lesions acquired in preterm infants have significant long-term implications for motor, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes.
- Further research is needed to understand the full impact of cerebellar development on neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
01:17Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
01:17Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions
The cerebellum, also known as the "little brain," is located in the posterior cranial fossa, inferior to the tentorium cerebelli and dorsal to the brainstem. It plays a significant role in motor control, coordination, and proprioception.
Cerebellar Structure
Externally, the cerebellum features a highly convoluted surface with numerous folia (narrow ridges) separated by shallow sulci (grooves). The cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by a thin median structure known as the vermis. The...
Cerebellar Structure
Externally, the cerebellum features a highly convoluted surface with numerous folia (narrow ridges) separated by shallow sulci (grooves). The cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by a thin median structure known as the vermis. The...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...