Dimensions of the dendritic spine in the sensorimotor cortex of the rat, cat, squirrel monkey and man

作者：Stanley Jacobson · 发表于：The Journal of Comparative Neurology · 年份：1967 · DOI：10.1002/cne.901290104 · 被引用次数：21 · 研究领域：Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research、Photoreceptor and optogenetics research、Sleep and Wakefulness Research

Abstract Measurements of dendritic spines have suggested that there is similarity in the dimensions of the spines in various mammals. The present study was undertaken to determine if there is any variation in the dimension of the dendritic spine in sensorimotor cortex of rat, cat, squirrel monkey and man. Unfixed slices of rat, cat, squirrel monkey and human sensorimotor cortex were stained with either the Golgi‐rapid or Golgi‐Cox technique. Ultrastructural observations were confined to albino rats that were perfuse‐fixed with buffered 2% osmium. With the electron microscope it was very difficult to find spines. In contradistinction, the Golgi method revealed hundreds of spines; consequently the random sample was made from the Golgi stained material. In all the examined mammals the mean length of the entire spine was about 2.0 μ (1.5–3.5) with its component parts, the stalk 1.0 μ long (0.5–2.0) and the bulb 1.0 μ in diameter (0.5–2.0). The bulb connects via the stalk with the dendrite. Synapses are only seen on the bulb; they were never found on the stalk. The size of the spine was similar in light and electron microscopy. Comparison of the size of the spines in cortex impregnated with Golgi‐rapid to those impregnated with the Golgi‐Cox technique shows that the size of the spine is the same regardless of the animal or Golgi method used.