We used in situ hybridization to search for the expression of three protein phosphatase (PP) mRNAs in Purkinje cells of normal mice, and staggerer (sg/sg) and reeler (rl/rl) mutant mice, two strains with known Purkinje cell disorders. The expression of the mRNAs was comparable in the normal and rl/rl Purkinje cells, but considerably reduced in the sg/sg. We interpret this finding as indicating: (a) the staggerer mutant gene may directly affect the phosphatase component of the protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle in the sg/sg Purkinje cells; or (b) the reduced mRNA expression may be a secondary phenomenon, resulting from abnormal Purkinje cell function due to the lack of synaptic input.