Concentric lamellar bodies in axon terminals and preterminal axons of cerebellar Purkinje cells in groggy mutant rat: acid phosphatase cytochemistry.

The process of formation and degeneration of concentric lamellar bodies (CLBs) in axon terminals and preterminal axons of Purkinje cells were examined by acid phosphatase (ACPase) cytochemistry. In myelinated axons, tubular structures measuring 20-50 nm in diameter contained ACPase reaction products. In altered axon terminals and preterminal axons of Purkinje cells, elongated saccular structures contained numerous reaction products. These saccular structures were arranged concentrically and enclosed cytoplasmic organelles. In the CLBs displaying degenerative profiles, ACPase reaction products were dispersed in the degenerating materials. The nature of the tubular structures and their roles in the transport of ACPase and the formation of CLBs are discussed.