Abnormal distributions of callosal commissural and corticothalamic neurons in the cerebral neocortex of Shaking Rat Kawasaki

Neuroscience. 2002;114(2):427-38. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(02)00303-2.

Abstract

Shaking Rat Kawasaki (SRK) is an autosomal recessive mutant rat recognized by unstable gait and tremor and by early death around the time of weaning. We previously reported that corticospinal tract neurons are malpositioned in the motor cortex of the SRK rat [Ikeda and Terashima (1997) J. Comp. Neurol. 383, 370-380]. In the present study, we examined the distribution pattern of callosal commissural (CC) and corticothalamic (CT) neurons of SRK and normal rats with the injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the contralateral hemisphere or wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated HRP into the ventral lateral thalamic nucleus. The intracortical distribution pattern of retrogradely labeled CC and CT neurons in the motor cortex of SRK rat was abnormal: CC neurons were more deeply situated and CT neurons were more superficially situated in the SRK cortex than the corresponding components in the normal cortex. Most of labeled CC and CT neurons had abnormal dendritic configurations. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference of the mean intracortical position of CC and CT neurons of the SRK was significantly different from the normal counterparts (Student's t-test, P<0.01). Taken together with previous findings, our data demonstrate that the abnormal cytoarchitecture of SRK cortex resembles the reeler cortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agenesis of Corpus Callosum*
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / deficiency
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Size / genetics
  • Choristoma / congenital
  • Choristoma / genetics
  • Choristoma / pathology*
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology
  • Corpus Callosum / physiopathology
  • Dendrites / genetics
  • Dendrites / metabolism
  • Dendrites / pathology
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / deficiency
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Horseradish Peroxidase
  • Male
  • Movement Disorders / congenital
  • Movement Disorders / genetics
  • Movement Disorders / pathology*
  • Neocortex / abnormalities*
  • Neocortex / pathology
  • Neocortex / physiopathology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nervous System Malformations / genetics
  • Nervous System Malformations / pathology
  • Nervous System Malformations / physiopathology
  • Neural Pathways / abnormalities*
  • Neural Pathways / pathology
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Mutant Strains
  • Reelin Protein
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Thalamus / abnormalities*
  • Thalamus / pathology
  • Thalamus / physiopathology
  • Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Reelin Protein
  • Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate
  • Horseradish Peroxidase
  • Serine Endopeptidases