Abstract

The stellate neurons of the cerebellar cortex molecular layer are easily identified at light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy levels since they are the only short axon nerve cells existing in the middle and outer thirds of the cerebellar cortex molecular layer. Some internal details of fractured stellate neurons, such as GERL complex, endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclear chromatin have been three-dimensionally viewed by scanning electron microscopy and the freeze-fracture method, taking advantage of the washing out of cytoplasmic soluble proteins from the fracture face induced by the freeze-fracture process. The Freeze-etching replica technique for transmission electron microscopy shows the distribution of nuclear pores and the three-dimensional relief of endoplasmic reticulum and cell organelles. The stellate cell axon appears as a unique process directed toward Purkinje secondary and tertiary dendritic branches. The contoured stellate dendrites exhibit a beaded aspect and frequent bifurcations. Parallel and climbing fibers, and basket cell axons establish axospinodendritic and axosomatic contacts with stellate neurons and their dendritic processes. Axodendritic connections between stellate cells also are distinguished. Stellate neurons exhibit immunopositive reactions for Synapsin-I, PSD-95, GluR1, CaMKII and N-cadherin.