Figure 7

Neuroanatomical and histological examination of the brain. A. Brain weight. Brain weight analysis was perform in 24 weeks GSK-3α KO (n = 19-10) and WT (n = 14-10) animals. Values are mean (± SEM). *p ≤ 0.05; **p ≤ 0.001. B. Rotarod. GSK-3α KO (n = 13) and WT (n = 11) mice were tested on an accelerating rotarod in 3-day trials. Significant differences between the groups (p.value = 0.013) were found on day1 in the balance and coordination; however no changes were found in motor learning. C-D. Decrease in Purkinje cell density and size in GSK-3α KO mice. C. Purkinje cells image. Immunohistochemistry against Calbindin antibody of WT and GSK-3α KO cerebellum (shown original magnification, ×4 (upper panel) and ×10 (lower panel)). D. Statistical analysis of Purkinje cell density. Average cell density was determined by taking the ratio of the number of Purkinje cells to the length of cerebellar cortex segments. Cell density is significantly decreased in the GSK-3α KO (p < 0.05; Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z Test). E. Significant decrease of cell size in the GSK-3α KO (p < 0.01; Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z Test). Cell size was determined by measuring the longest axis of Purkinje cell bodies [N = 2345 WT, N = 1588 GSK-3α KO (number of cells)].