Figure 8
Correlation between S1P-lyase immunoreactivity and neuronal degeneration. Cerebella of wild-type (a and b) and S1P-lyase-deficient (c and d) mice were stained with an antibody against S1P-lyase. Immunoreactivity for S1P-lyase is mainly present in Purkinje cell somata (arrows in a and b) and proximal dendrites (arrowhead in b) as well as in the perivascular and superficial glial limiting membrane (arrowhead in a). Sections of corresponding regions from knockout mice cerebella (c and d) are devoid of S1P-lyase immunoreactivity. Sagittal sections through the cerebellar vermal region of adult wild-type (+/+, e) and S1P-lyase-deficient (−/−, f) mice were stained with toluidine blue and pyronin (g). Arrows in Figure 8f indicate scattered groups of degenerating Purkinje neurons in the cerebellar cortex. The insert in Figure 8f shows two degenerating neurons at higher magnification, featuring darkened cytoplasm, irregular shrunken contours and in one case nuclear pyknosis. Bars correspond to 300 μm (a and c), 30 μm (b and d), and 50 μm (e and f)
