The synaptic glomerulus and the intrinsic neuron in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

作者：Edward V. Famiglietti, Alan Peters · 发表于：The Journal of Comparative Neurology · 年份：1972 · DOI：10.1002/cne.901440304 · 被引用次数：402 · 研究领域：Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research、Barrier Structure and Function Studies、Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

Abstract The morphological characteristics of Class III, Golgi Type II neurons are analyzed in Golgi impregnations of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in the cat with special attention given to the complex dendritic appendages of these cells, the multilobed dendritic terminals. In addition, electron microscopic studies demonstrate the presence of presynaptic dendritic (ID) terminals as major components of synaptic glomeruli. Electron microscopic analysis of serial thin sections confirm the dendritic origin and the complex, multilobed nature of these terminals. An hypothesis is proposed identifying the ID terminal with the multilobed dendritic terminals of light microscopically identified Class III cells and the IA terminal, the “peripheral axon” of the glomerulus, with the axonal endings of all Golgi Type II cells. The Class III neuron has a short axon ramifying near the cell of origin. The axon terminates in boutons en passant and boutons terminaux: single, bilobed or “claw‐like” endings. Optic axons terminate not in “claw‐like” fashion, as previously thought, but in club‐shaped endings with scalloped silhouettes. The principal dendrites of Class III cells are characterized by long‐stalked appendages, often multilobed and occurring at the end of preterminal stalks 5 to 100 μ in length. One impregnated multilobed terminal studied in the electron microscope was found to innervate two adjacent glomeruli. The relationship of ID terminals to optic axon terminals and to other ...