Delineation of anatomical compartments in the non-human primate cerebellum
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Abstract
The goal of this study was to investigate the histochemical compartmentalization of the non-human primate cerebellum. While histochemical compartmentalization has been well characterized in rodents, its extent and organization in primates remain unclear. Previous studies have identified distinct histochemical patterns in the rodent cerebellum, yet comparable subdivisions in the significantly larger and more complex primate cerebellum have not been fully delineated. To address this, histochemical staining was performed on brain sections from four macaque monkeys, followed by digital imaging and quantification. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining revealed discrete darkly stained patches within the cerebellar white matter, with a pattern of pronounced and complex clustering differential staining around the cerebellar nuclei, suggesting an underlying compartmental organization. Cytochrome oxidasec staining outlined a patterned distribution of Purkinje cells, but did not show evidence of compartmentalization in the gray or white matter., further indicating compartment-specific metabolic activity Additionally, limited c-Fos expression pointed to differential functional roles for AChE and zebrin in defining cerebellar compartments.The AChE compartments did not correlate with clusters of granule or Purkinje cells activate during a cognitive task, suggesting that histochemical compartmentalization may not relate to spatial patterns of functional activity These findings provide evidence for structured histochemical compartmentalization in the primate cerebellum, reinforcing the notion that the cerebellum is composed of anatomically and functionally distinct subdivisions. This study enhances our understanding of primate cerebellar organization and highlights the need for further research into its role in both motor and non-motor functions.
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2025