Comparative study of the red nucleus cytoarchitecture in cats with neonatal or adult hemicerebellectomy

Abstract

In this study we investigated the red nucleus (RN) cytoarchitecture in cats with hemicerebellectomy performed at a neonatal or an adult age (HcbK and HcbA, respectively). Compared to intact control cats, the volume of the RN contralateral to the lesion decreased by 47.6% in the HcbK (p < 0.04), and by 35.2% in the HcbA (p < 0.04). On the side of the lesion, the RN volume decreased by 27.2% in HcbK (p < 0.04) and by 14.8% in HcbA (p > 0.05). For further analysis, cells in the RN were classified in three categories according to their size: small glial-like cells, medium-size and large-size neurons. Medium-size and large-neuron packing density did not change in any of the lesioned groups compared to intact cats, while density of glial-like cells increased bilaterally in the HcbA (p < 0.0001 contralaterally and p < 0.0001 to p < 0.001 ipsilaterally) but not in the HcbK group. The body size of the large neurons was also measured. In the contralateral RN, size of the large neurons decreased