Cerebellar disease Flashcards
Where is the cerebellum housed?
In the caudal fossa
What is another name for the white matter of the cerebellum?
Arbor vitae
- deep within this lies the cerebellar nuclei
What is the name for the central portion of cerebellum? lateral?
Central: vermis
Lateral: lateral hemispheres
What are the differences in the function of the cerebrocerebellum spinocerebellum, and vestibulocerebellum
Cerebrocerebellum: processes information coming from cerebral cortex-helps with fine motor control
Spinocerebellum: processes information from spinal cord- helps with general movements
Vestibulocerebellum: helps with balance
What lies between the molecular and granular layer of the cerebellum?
Purkinje cell layer
Describe how information is transferred through the cerebellum
Info from cerebrum or spine climbs up mossy fibers, which synapse on granular cells. Granular cells move through molecular layer and synapse on dendritic processes of purkinje cells. Basket cells coordinate info from the granular cell layer and send it to the deep cerebellar nuclei which then sends it throughout the body
What is the role of the cerebellum?
Fine tunes movement mainly though inhibitory function (contains a massive amount of neurons)
What are the main clinical signs associated with cerebellar disease?
Intention tremors, hypermetra, increased muscle tone, titubation (abnormal head movement), vestibular signs
Describe the decerebellate rigitity?
Forelimbs extended, hindlimbs flexed
- patients with this posture have normal to slightly obtunded mentation
Describe paradoxical vestibular disease
Head tilt (opposite lesion) and proprioceptive deficits are contralateral to eachother due to a lesion in the floculonodular lobe of the cerebellum
- nystagmus fast phase towards lesion
Describe cerebellar cortical abiotrophy
At birth anatomy is normal, but degeneration of the normal anatomy occurs over time. The normal neuronal cell population degenerates after birth
What breed is most affected by cerebellar cortical abiotrophy?
American Staffordshire terriers
- often presents between 4-6 years of age, MST 2-4 years (no trt available)
-over time leads to inability to walk
What do you see on histopath of a patient with cerebellar cortical abiotrophy?
Loss of purkinje neurons and thinning of all layers of the cerebellum
Describe what happens during Chiari like malformation or COMS
Herniation of the cerebellum through the foramen magnum occurs
- leads to intention tremor or hypermetria
What breed is the most predisposed to COMS syndrome?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels as well as other toy breeds
What causes the majority of the clinical signs associated with COMS?
Medullary kinking leading to a disruption in CSF flow
What is the infectious agent that causes feline cerebellar hypoplasia?
Perinatal infection of the panleukopenia virus
-it affects rapidly multiplying external granular cells
What are the clinical signs of feline cerebellar hypoplasia?
Nonprogressive, symmetric cerebellar ataxia
T/F: There is a treatment for feline cerebellar hypoplasia
F- there is not but most cats can compensate with time, aka NOT A REASON TO EUTHANIZE
What is the main cause of cerebellar hypoplasia in dogs?
Canine herpes virus
When do you usually first see the signs associated with canine herpes virus from an in utero infection?
Within the first 2 weeks of life, associated with a high fatality rate
What is a long lasting clinical sign of canine herpes virus for those that survive the initial infection?
Retinal dysplasia
What are the main clinical signs of young vs old dogs affected by canine distemper virus?
Young dogs have a history of seizures due to polioencephalomyelopathy (grey-matter disease) and rarely survive
Older dogs have brain-stem, cerebellar and vestibular signs often related to leukoencephalomyelopathy (white matter disease) often resulting in myoclonus (often does not resolve)
