Functional recovery after cerebellar damage is related to GAP-43-mediated reactive responses of pre-cerebellar and deep cerebellar nuclei

► Symptoms evoked by hemicerebellectomy are reflected by GAP-43 levels modifications. ► GAP-43 mediates retrograde death in pre-cerebellar neurons axotomized by the lesion. ► GAP-43 mediates plastic response in not-axotomized pontine and deep cerebellar nuclei. ► Plasticity of spared ponto-cerebellar circuit precedes and drives functional recovery. ► GAP-43 level in each cerebellar nucleus is related to recovery from specific symptoms.