Transient vimentin expression during the embryonic development of the chicken cerebellum

• Published in: International journal of developmental neuroscience Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 11 - 20
• Main Authors: Kommata, Vasiliki, Dermon, Catherine R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Bergmann glia; Bromodeoxyuridine - metabolism; Cell growth; Cell proliferation; Cerebellum; Cerebellum - anatomy & histology; Cerebellum - embryology; Cerebellum - metabolism; Cerebellum fissure formation; Chick Embryo; Chickens; ELAV Proteins - metabolism; Embryogenesis; Embryonic Development - physiology; Embryonic growth stage; External granule cell layer; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Fibers; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Immunofluorescence; Immunohistochemistry; Localization; Molecular chains; Morphogenesis; Neurosciences; Organogenesis - physiology; Poultry; Proteins; Radial glia; Substantia alba; Vimentin; Vimentin - metabolism; External granule cell layer; Cell proliferation; Cerebellum fissure formation; Morphogenesis; Radial glia; Bergmann glia
• ISSN: 0736-5748; 1873-474X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.10.003

•Vimentin filaments are found in EGL, molecular layer and cerebellum white matter.•Vimentin showed age and lobule-specific expression during chicken cerebellum ontogenesis.•Initially vimentin was densely expressed iin fissure base but at later stages it was mainly confined to folia apex.•Double immunofluorescence showed partial co-localization with GFAP/,BLBP and a close relation to BrdU+ cells.•Vimentin “base to apex” profile supports its role in cerebellum corticogenesis structural events.
Complex morphogenetic events, critical for the development of normal cerebellum foliation and layering, are known to involve type III intermediate filament protein such as vimentin expressed by Bergmann glia. The present study aimed to determine aspects of intermediate and late embryonic pattern of vimentin expression during the corticogenesis of chicken cerebellum at embryonic days 10–19 (E10-E19), using single and double immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence. Vimentin expression showed partial co-localization with the glial markers GFAP and BLBP. Within cerebellar cortex, vimentin+ fibers were first found within lobules I and X (E10) and gradually extended to all folia (E15-E17), located within the external granule (EGL) the molecular cell layer, showing a radial orientation towards the inner granular layer and the cerebellar white matter oriented longitudinally. Interestingly, within the immature fissures base of most lobules, vimentin+ fibers radiate in a fan shape. Short-term BrdU experiments revealed that EGL cell proliferation was higher in the fissure base compared to folia apex. In addition, following 24-h survival, BrdU+ cells were found in close association to vimentin+ fibers in the EGL pre-migratory zone and within immature molecular layer. Paralleling cerebellum development, vimentin expression gradually extended to all folia sub-regions (base, wall, apex), but, at day E19, it was mainly confined to the folia apex and secondary fissure base. Taken together our data further support the possible role of vimentin+ fibers in the structural events of cerebellum corticogenesis, suggesting the participation of radial/Bergmann glia in chicken cerebellum foliation, similarly to that described for mammalian cerebellum morphogenesis.