Histochemical and cytochemical studies on the succinic dehydrogenase in the developing cerebellum

Abstract

1. A study was done on the distribution of succinic dehydrogenase activity (SDA) in the developing cerebella of cats and mice, from the middle fetal life to the adult, using fresh frozen sections prepared by the use of carbowax (polyethylene glycol).2. Although extremely weak, the SDA was already recognized at the middle stage of embryonic life. The activity was seen to be intensified at the later stage (near term). There was a remarkable difference on the distribution of SDA between the embryos and the adults.3. The pronounced increase in the activities with the development of all the components of cerebellum were seen from about the 6th day after birth on again (mouse 5th day). Observations on the 65th day (mouse 19th day) revealed that they showed the adult pattern.4. Cytologically, the SDA was beautifully demonstrated in the external granule cells, the cells in the molecular layer, the PURKINJE cells, and their satellite cells, basket cell fibers, the inner granule cells and other cells in the granule layer. The activities were, also, observed in the cells of the white matter during the development.5. In the inner granule layer, the activities were at first restricted mainly to the region adjacent to the PURKINJE cell layer with the gradual decrease towards the white matter.6. By the 6th day after birth (mouse 8th day), the PURKINJE cell nuclei were located towards the bottom of cell bodies showing the eccentrical localization of the activity in the area of dendritic origin. Thereafter, they were located in the center of racket-shaped cytoplasm showing perinuclear staining of the cytoplasm.7. Except for the above mentioned results, findings were essentially the same to those reported by FRIEDE (957) in the developing cerebellum of the rat.