The cytoskeleton of the human cerebellar cortex: an immunohistochemical study of normal and pathological material

Monoclonal antibodies to non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated neurofilaments, as well as monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to other cytoskeletal elements, were applied to the study of the cerebellar cortex of normal and pathological human material. The methods proved to be applicable to formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue, provided the period of formalin fixation was short. The main difference between normal and pathological material was found in Purkinje cells and their dendrites. While normal Purkinje perikarya and dendrites expressed only non-phosphorylated neurofilaments, reactive dendrites stained more intensely with antibodies to phosphorylated neurofilaments. Similar observations were made on the abnormal dendritic ramifications of the partially deafferented, hypertrophic, inferior olive. The significance of the appearance of phosphorylated neurofilament epitopes in abnormal dendrites remains unknown and requires further investigation.