Behavioral effects of neonatal lesions on the cerebellar system.

Several rodent models with spontaneous mutations causing cerebellar pathology are impaired in motor functions during the neonatal period, including Grid2 Lc , Rora sg , Dab1 scm , Girk2 Wv , Lmx1a dr-sst , Myo5a dn , Inpp4a wbl , and Cacna1a rol mice as well as shaker and dystonic rats. Deficits are also evident in murine null mutants such as Zic1 , Fgfr1 / FgFr2 , and Xpa / Ercc8 . Behavioral deficits are time-dependent following X-irradiated- or aspiration-induced lesions of the cerebellum in rats. In addition, motor functions are deficient after lesions in cerebellar-related pathways. As in animal subjects, sensorimotor disturbances have been described in children with cerebellar lesions. These results underline the importance of the cerebellum and its connections in the development of motor functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]