Experimental reorganization of the cerebellar cortex. V. Effects of early X‐irradiation schedules that allow or prevent the acquisition of basket cells

In neonate and infant rats the area of the cerebellum was irradiated with different schedules of single or multiple doses of low‐level X‐ray. One set of schedules allowed the early recovery of the external germinal layer and the differentiation of all the postnatally‐forming cell types while the other selectively prevented the acquisition of basket cells. The first schedule did not interfere with the development of normally oriented and arborizing Purkinje cells. The second schedule led to the growth of twisted and entwined stem dendrites even when, in association with the recovered granule cells, parallel fibers were present in the molecular layer together with Purkinje cell spiny branchlets. Evidence was presented that the alignment of Purkinje cell perikarya in a monolayer does not guarantee the normal growth of Purkinje cell stem dendrites which may be dependent on the presence of basket cells. The problem was discussed whether cell differentiation in the cerebellar cortex is governed by a chronological or sequential principle.