has soma location has soma location Purkinje cell PC Neurodegenerative disorders affecting Purkinje cells disrupt motor functions. Some of the neurodegenerative disorders that causes loss and degeration of Purkinje cells are Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) (Josef P Kapfhammer and Etsuko Shimobayashi 2023), Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) (Kevin C Kemp et al., 2016), Fetal alcohol syndrome (Laurent Servais et al., 2016), Dandy-Walker malformation (Alexander Atamian et al., 2024). BTO:0001011 Purkinje neuron PN FMA:67969 CALOHA:TS-0845 ZFA:0009071 https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0000121 cerebellar Purkinje cell An inhibitory neuron and the sole output neuron of the cerebellar cortex, the Purkinje cell's soma is located between the granular and molecular layers of the cerebellum. It is one of the largest neural cells in the mammalian brain, ranging from 50 to 80 micrometres in diameter. Purkinje cells have planar, fan-shaped dendrites that branch extensively with little overlap. This cell type receives synaptic input from parallel fibres, which modulate high-frequency spike activity known as "simple spikes," and climbing fibres, which modulate infrequent calcium spike activity known as "complex spikes". Purkinje cells are involved in motor coordination, particularly in correcting movements in progress. Purkinje cells, named after the Czech anatomist Jan Evangelista Purkyně who discovered them, are unique inhibitory neurons in the cerebellar cortex. They are a critical part of the vertebrate nervous system as they provide the only signal output from the cortex to the cerebellar nuclei. They are one of the few types of neurons that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. The most distinct hallmark of Purkinje cells is their elaborate dendritic arbor, which forms a broad and intricately branching structure resembling a tree. These numerous branches each receive excitatory synaptic inputs from more than 100,000 parallel fibers; in addition, a single climbing fiber makes hundreds of synapses to the soma and proximal dendrites. A single long axon forms an inhibitory projection to the cerebellar nuclei. Purkinje cells play key roles in the coordination of fine, voluntary motor movements and balance. As the sole output of all motor coordination in the cerebellar cortex, they serve as a central relay in the cerebro-cerebellar loop. Each Purkinje cell receives two types of synaptic input: one from parallel fibers (which are axons of granule cells), and the other from climbing fibers (originating from the inferior olivary nucleus). The Purkinje cells process and integrate these diverse kinds of input signals to generate output that controls timing and coordination of movements. Purkinje neurons show considerable synaptic plasticity. Throughout life, these cells continue to undergo long-term potentiation and depression at parallel fiber synapses, which cause long-lasting increase or decrease, respectively, of synaptic transmission and have been proposed as mechanisms for motor learning. Purkinje cells are also known to be implicated in a variety of diseases. Their progressive loss is a prime feature in certain types of ataxia, a collective term used to describe conditions characterized by loss of muscular control and coordination. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the density of Purkinje cells has been reported in conditions such as autism and Huntington’s disease. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) GABAergic neuron cerebellar neuron Purkinje cell layer of cerebellar cortex