Abstract: Objective To investigate the differentiation of radial glial cells during the development of mouse cerebellar cortex. Methods The immunofluorescent stainings and 5-bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) assay were used to label neural stem cells, radial glial cells, Purkinje cells and granule cells in cerebellum(57 cases，which were divided into 19 groups,and each had 3 mice) from embryonic day 8 (E8) to postnatal day 180 (P180). Results The radial glial cells could be found in neuroepithelium at E13 Then they differentiated various neurons and Bergmann cells. The radial glia cells played very important role in the cerebellar lamination. Conclusion Radial glial cells are generated from the neuroepithelial cells, and they act as the neural progenitors for neurons and neuroglia. During the development of cerebellar cortex, radial glial cells can differentiate into Purkinje cells and granule cells and provide the pathways and scaffolds for the neuron migration.

Key words: Cerebellar cortex, Development, Radial glial cell, Immunofluorescence technique, Mouse