Summary
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1.
The cellular and synaptic pattern of the lateral geniculate body of the monkey has been studied electronmicroscopically by using microdissected portions from individual layers. For general orientation and comparison the Golgi technique has been utilised extensively.
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2.
This technique revealed four different types of neuron whose distribution differs in the various layers. The first type has 3–4 stem dendrites, which possess tiny side branches or appendages. The second type is smaller and has 8–10 stem dendrites. The third type is a Golgi type II cell with very long dendrites with bushy terminal arborisations. The fourth type are very small neurons and it is difficult to separate them from glial cells with certainty.
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3.
The synaptic organisation has been examined in great detail, in particular the different composition of the glomeruli in different layers. Seven components of a glomerulus have been found whose individual contributions vary in different layers. These components are: main axon, main dendrite, peripheral axons, peripheral dendrites, dendritic and axonal thorns and glia lamellae.
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4.
In addition to this synaptic pattern a further interesting synapse has been found, an axo-axonal type in contact with the initial segment of a large axon of a geniculate cell.
Zusammenfassung
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1.
Der zelluläre Aufbau und die synaptische Organisation einzelner Schichten des Corpus geniculatum laterale des Affen wurde mit der Golgi-Technik und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Die kleinen Gewebsstücke aus verschiedenen Regionen einer bestimmten Schicht wurden für die Elektronenmikroskopie durch Mikrosektion nach vorheriger Anfärbung des ganzen Geniculatum präpariert.
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2.
In Golgipräparaten lassen sich vier Neuronenarten unterscheiden, deren quantitative Verteilung in den Schichten verschieden ist. Die erste Art besitzt 3–4 Stammdendriten, die noch winzigste Seitenäste tragen. Die zweite Art ist kleiner und hat 8–10 Stammdendriten. Die dritte Art entspricht der Golgi-Zelle II. Ihre Stammdendriten sind sehr lang und mit dichten Endverzweigungen ausgestattet. Die vierte Zellart wird von kleinen, glia-ähnlichen Zellen gebildet. Diese lichtmikroskopischen Befunde sind für die elektronenmikroskopische Auswertung wertvoll.
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3.
Die synaptische Organisation ist elektronenmikroskopisch analysiert worden, insbesondere die Zusammensetzung der Glomeruli. Sieben verschiedene neuronale und gliöse Fortsätze tragen dazu bei, aber ihre mengenmäßige Beteiligung ist für die einzelnen Schichten unterschiedlich. Diese Fortsätze setzen sich wie folgt zusammen: Ein Hauptaxon, ein Hauptdendrit, peripher gelegene kleinere Axone, peripher gelegene Dendriten, dornenartige Fortsätze der Dendriten und der Axone, Glialamellen.
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4.
Eine weitere Synapsenart von besonderem Interesse zeigte sich in einer axo-axonalen Art, deren postsynaptische Teile von dem Initialsegment des efferenten Axons einer Geniculatumzelle gebildet werden.
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We wish to thank Frau I. Bernhard, Frau M. Bothe and Mr. Ph. Tiplady for technical assistance and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Gl. 28/12, Ne. 46/4) for their financial support.
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Campos-Ortega, J.A., Glees, P. & Neuhoff, V. Ultrastructural analysis of individual layers in the lateral geniculate body of the monkey. Z. Zellforsch. 87, 82–100 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326562
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326562