Fig. 6. Confocal microscopy analysis shows disorganization of Bergmann fibers and long processes of abnormal GFAP-positive astroglia in double null mutants. (A,C) Wild types at P5 (A) and p8 (C) display well-organized Bergmann processes with an exclusively radial orientation and well-defined end-feet (arrows). (B,D) By contrast, Abr;Bcr double null mutant Bergmann processes show disorganization close to the pial surface both at P5 (B) and P8 (D). In addition, double null mutants show the presence of aberrant glial cells on the pial surface (arrowheads in insets) which display long thin processes similar to Bergmann processes (inset D, arrowhead). Arrows point to the pial surface. Immunostaining for GFAP and detection of FITC immunofluorescence (green) was performed using confocal microscopy. Purkinje cells were stained with calbindin and detected by TRITC immunofluorescence (red) in the images on the left. Scale bar: 30 µm A,C (15 µm inset); 50 µm B,D (25 µm inset).
