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Neuroplastin (np) 55 and 65 are immunoglobulin superfamily members that arise by alternative splicing of the same gene and have been implicated in long-term activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Both biochemical and immunocytochemical data suggest that np55 is the predominant isoform (>95% of total neuroplastin) in cerebellum. Neuroplastin immunoreactivity is concentrated in the molecular layer and synaptic glomeruli in the granule cell layer. Expression in the molecular layer appears to be postsynaptic. First, neuroplastin is associated with Purkinje cell dendrites in two mouse granuloprival cerebellar mutants, disabled and cerebellar deficient folia. Second, in an acid sphingomyelinase knockout mouse with widespread protein trafficking defects, neuroplastin accumulates in the Purkinje cell somata. Finally, primary cerebellar cultures show neuroplastin expression in Purkinje cell dendrites and somata lacking normal histotypic organization and synaptic connections, and high-magnification views indicate a preferential association with dendritic spines. In the molecular layer, differences in neuroplastin expression levels present as a parasagittal array of stripes that alternates with that revealed by the expression of another compartmentation antigen, zebrin II/aldolase c. Neuroplastin immunoreactivity is first detected weakly at postnatal day 3 (P3) in the anterior lobe vermis. By P5, parasagittal stripes are already apparent in the immature molecular layer. At this stage, punctate deposits are also localised at the perimeter of the Purkinje cell perikarya; these are no longer detected by P15. The data suggest a role for neuroplastins in the development and maintenance of normal synaptic connections in the cerebellum. J. Comp. Neurol. 462:286–301, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]