The Primate Cerebellar Cortex: A Golgi and Electron Microscopic Study

Publisher Summary This chapter talks about the primate cerebellar cortex. The discussion is interspersed in the presentation to explain immediately the interpretations given the electron micrographs. The capricious method of Golgi, which now and then reveals the external morphology of a nerve cell and all its processes more completely than any other technique, has been most successful when applied to the cerebellar cortex. In the present study features of the cerebellar cortex are illustrated with Golgi impregnations of the macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta) and with electron micrographs of man, the macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta) and the squirrel monkey (Suimiri sciureus) .Olivocerebellar fibers, conceivably, drive the intracerebellar nuclei and continuing on as climbing fibers stimulate the Purkinje cells. The climbing fiber-Purkinje cell ratio may be one to one. Purkinje cells actively inhibit the cerebellar nuclei and Deiters nucleus. This inhibition is continuously modified by circuits activated by mossy fibers, arriving from spinal, reticular, vestibular, pontine and tegmental sources.