Immunohistochemical studies on synapse formation by embryonic cerebellar tissue transplanted into the cerebellum of the weaver mutant mouse

Abstract

Normal cerebellar tissue, obtained from 15-day-old CBA/JNCij mouse embryos, was transplanted into the cerebellum of 4-week-old weaver mice. At the 6th week after the transplantation, the grafted tissue was distinguishable from the host cerebellum, developing a trilaminar organization. The formation of synapses by the implanted granule cells was analyzed immunohistochemically with antiserum against synaptic vesicle protein, Synapsin I. Some areas in the host cerebellum as well as in the grafted tissue were intensely stained by anti-Synapsin I serum, suggesting that the implanted granule cells make synaptic contacts with the neuronal cells.