January Image Contest

Description: DESCRIPTION: Immunofluorescence labeling of the mouse cerebellum. Image taken using an LSM 880 confocal microscope. The white matter (dark area in this image) within the cerebellum is called Arbor Vitae (= Tree of Life), which is covered by a three-layered cerebellar cortex. Inner to outer: 1) Granular layer containing various cells and fibers, including alpha-synuclein positive cells and fibers (green dots, most probably unipolar brush cells and rosettes); 2) Purkinje cell layer, which contains large Purkinje cells (Calbindin-red, the fruits of our tree); and 3) Molecular layer, which is filled by extensions from Purkinje neurons called dendritic trees (see right top image) and basket and stellate cells. Moreover, cerebellar nuclei (reddish masses deep within the trunk of our tree), are the main output center of the cerebellum which includes large glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons that send axons outside the cerebellum.