Argentic staining reveals changes in cerebellar tissue organisation by prenatal glucocorticoid administration in rats

Histol Histopathol. 2021 Feb;36(2):195-205. doi: 10.14670/HH-18-291. Epub 2020 Dec 17.

Abstract

It was almost 150 years ago that Golgi revolutionised histology with silver-based stains. Major advances in knowledge of the nervous system became possible because of silver impregnations. Silver staining combined with classical histological staining, cytochemistry methods, and electron microscopy is useful for studying mechanisms and components at subcellular, cellular, and tissue levels. Despite the advantages of silver staining, its use has decreased over time. The aim of this work was to use argentic staining to study the cerebellar effects of controversial prenatal glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. At postnatal day 12 (P12), the cerebellum of corticosterone (CC)-treated rats impregnated with AgNOR staining exhibited diminished thickness of the external granule layer (EGL) and irregular Purkinje cell arrangement. There was a greater number of nucleoli and nucleolar organiser regions (NORs) in 24% of Purkinje cells. Cerebellar granule neuron progenitor (CGNP) cells of the EGL showed a decrease in cellular density (confirmed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] immunolocalization) and NORs. At postnatal day 6 (P6), the Golgi-Kopsch technique allowed us to observe disturbances in the distribution pattern of CGNP cells (during proliferation, migration, and differentiation) and premature growth of the Bergmann glia. Our findings reveal disturbances in the cerebellar development program with early cellular and tissue changes.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Nucleolus / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cerebellum / drug effects*
  • Cerebellum / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Nucleolus Organizer Region / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Animal
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Purkinje Cells / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Silver Staining

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen

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