Abstract: Objective To provide scientific basis data for the function of Reelin in the hippocampal formation by comparing the histological structure of the hippocampus in different reelin genotype mice. Methods Heterozygous reelin mice offspring were used, and genotype identification was performed after birth for 10 days. Experiment was divided into three groups including reelin+/+, reelin+/- and reelin-/-, and each group had 3 mice. After identification, the mice were perfused through heart by 4% paraformaldehyde and the whole brain wascollected. All samples were fixed by paraformaldehyde, sucrose dehydration and finally cut into frozen coronal slice. DAPI was used to stain nuclei, and fluorescence immunohistochemistry was performed to label Tbr-1, NeuN and GFAP specific expression cells, then fluorescence microscope was used for further observation and analysis; Results From the DAPI stained nuclei and Tbr-1, NeuN and GFAP labeled cell structure, it could be seen that reelin+/+ mice and reelin+/- mice in hippocampal area had similar structure, but in comparison with the reelin+/+ and reelin-/- mice, dentate gyrus cells of the reelin-/- type mouse spreaded to the gate area, the cell layer of hippocampal structure disordered, and GFAP labeled cells reduced; Conclusion Reelin has obvious effect on normal formation of mouse brain structure. Under the condition of reelin knock out mouse, the dentate gyrus area cells are dispersed, the cell layer of the hippocampus is disordered, and glial cells and fiber distribution both are reduced.

Key words: Reelin, reeler mice, hippocampus, histological structure