[Electron microscope study of the changes in the pyriform neurocytes in the mouse cerebellum during protein-calorie...

The changes in the distribution of dark, light and intermediate pyriform neurocytes (Purkinje's cells) in the cerebellum of mice which developed under the conditions of protein-caloric deficiency were assayed from the 10th to the 40th day of mouse life. In the control animals, the number of dark cells was 7 +/- 3%, of intermediate 44 +/- 7%, and that of light ones 49 +/- 7%. Under malnutrition the number of dark cells rose to 26 +/- 5% (P less than 0.01), that of intermediate cells fell to 33 +/- 6% (P less than 0.01), and the number of light cells changed insignificantly (41 +/- 6%, P less than 0.1). Electron microscopy of the ultrastructure of dark cells has disclosed dystrophic and destructive changes in the nucleus and in the main organelles of the cytoplasm. Pronounced astroglial reaction was not infrequently observed around dark cells.