Characterization of direct Purkinje cell outputs to the brainstem

Purkinje cells (PCs) primarily project to cerebellar nuclei but also directly innervate the brainstem. Some PC-brainstem projections have been described previously, but most have not been thoroughly characterized. Here we use a PC-specific cre line to anatomically and electrophysiologically characterize PC projections to the brainstem. PC synapses are surprisingly widespread, with the highest densities found in the vestibular and parabrachial nuclei. However, there are pronounced regional differences in synaptic densities within both the vestibular and parabrachial nuclei. Large optogenetically-evoked PC-IPSCs are preferentially observed in subregions with the highest densities of PC synapses, suggesting that PCs selectively influence these areas and the behaviors they regulate. Unexpectedly, the pontine central gray and nearby subnuclei also contained a low density of PC synapses, and large PC-IPSCs are observed in a small fraction of cells. We combined electrophysiological recordings..., , , # Data from: Characterization of direct Purkinje cell outputs to the brainstem

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.s7h44j1hw](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.s7h44j1hw)

## Description of the data and file structure

This data set are example images and analysis used in the published work, \"Characterization of direct Purkinje cell outputs to the brainstem eLife 13:RP101825\"

[https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.101825.1](https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.101825.1)

### Files and variables

#### File: figure1\_slidescanner.zip

**Description:** 

* raw images used for figure 1
* sorted by file name, coronal slides are named posterior to anterior, sagittal slices are named lateral to medial

#### File: code\_dir.zip

**Description:** 

* analysis scripts for figure 2-4

- excel tables are exports from arivis vgat putative synapse location

* put raw confocal images (see below) into the same directory as the rest of code_dir to run ‘fig2_colocalization.m’ - this script takes vat location data and synaptop...