Natural loss of Purkinje cells during development and increased loss with alcohol.

In untreated rats, degenerating Purkinje cells (P cells) were present from the 20th day of embryonic life (E20) to post-natal day 14 (PN14), but none was present on E17 or PN15. Ethanol increased the loss of P cells both before birth and up to PN6 or 8, but from PN10 no increased loss was seen. Most degenerating P cells were located below the P cell line. On PN3 ethanol killed some P cells in 12 h, and the first ultrastructural change was a dilatation of the nuclear double membrane after 8 h. Among the surviving P cells, natural cell death continued. Pentothal anesthesia on PN3 did not damage P cells. Exposure to ethanol from E12 to PN5 resulted in a large loss of P cells and retarded the foliation of the cerebellum.