Regional differences in the distribution of golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex of man and some other mammals

Summary The number of Golgi cells per unit volume was determined in different regions of the cerebellar cortex of man and of ten other mammals. Despite the general belief in the uniform architecture of the cerebellar cortex, regional differences in the distribution of Golgi cells were found. In the inferior parts of the vermis, the number of Golgi cells per unit volume is twice that in the corresponding hemispheres. In addition, there are differences between the anterior and inferior parts of the vermis. These differences are a feature of the cytoarchitecture of the cerebellum in man and all the investigated mammals. The ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells was also determined and found to differ in different species. In man, this ratio is 11.5, while in the monkey and cat it is almost 11.9 and in the rat 13.3. These differences in the ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells are discussed from the point of view of cerebellar evolution.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.