Synapse-independent and synapse-dependent apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells in postnatal rabbits occur at two subsequent but partly overlapping developmental stages

Cerebellar Ataxia, Seizures, Premature Death, and Cardiac Abnormalities in Mice with Targeted Disruption of the Cacna2d2 Gene

“…Only later was this process followed by gradual loss of Purkinje cells, with most of them gone by 52 weeks (data not shown). This observation is consistent with the view that granular cells' survival during normal cerebellum development is largely dependent on forming proper connections with Purkinje cells 30 and that perturbations in Purkinje cells during critical stages of cerebellar development often result in devastating effects on granule cells. 31 Purkinje cell-dependent depletion of granular neurons was described also in another cerebellar neurodegenerative model, lurcher heterozygous mice.…”

K+-dependent Cerebellar Granule Neuron Apoptosis

“…Programmed cell death is particularly important in the developing cerebellum (15)(16)(17). During the first post-natal week, intense proliferation of the external granular layer (EGL) gives rise to several millions of granule neurons (GN) 1 that migrate across the molecular and Purkinje layers to reach the inner granular layer (IGL) (15,17).…”

“…During the first post-natal week, intense proliferation of the external granular layer (EGL) gives rise to several millions of granule neurons (GN) 1 that migrate across the molecular and Purkinje layers to reach the inner granular layer (IGL) (15,17). Massive apoptosis contributes to numerically match GN with the post-synaptic Purkinje neurons.…”

“…Massive apoptosis contributes to numerically match GN with the post-synaptic Purkinje neurons. Both synapse-dependent and -independent events are involved in developmental GN apoptosis (15,17). Various neurons including rat GN die by apoptosis when cultured in a medium containing a physiological concentration of K ϩ (5, 6, 16, 18 -20).…”

Natural apoptosis in developing mice dopamine midbrain neurons and vermal Purkinje cells

“…The same may occur in other neurons of the cerebellar system, which would ensure the organization and refinement of corticonuclear circuits. In this way, there is evidence showing climbing-fiber elimination [12] and loss of young granule cells [24] in the developing cerebellum. Moreover, alteration of basal neuron death in the human cerebellar system may be involved in sudden unexplained perinatal death; previous studies have found defects in both PCs and inferior olivary nuclei neurons in victims of sudden intrauterine unexplained death and sudden infant death syndromes [21].…”