Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
10:00 on 9/15/2015
Dr. Lindsley
MS-539, lindslt@mail.amc.edu
Lecture Objectives: Introduction to the histology and cell biology of neurons,
emphasizing the special features of neurons that distinguish them from other cell
types, esp. axon transport. Using the example of a simple spinal reflex circuit,
students learn to integrate their understanding of neuronal structure and direction of
information flow to the gross anatomy of spinal nerves.
Student Learning Objectives:
1. Describe important histological characteristics of neurons, nerves and nervous
tissue.
2. Describe key features of the 3 kinetic components of axon transport (fast
anterograde, fast retrograde and slow anterograde).
3. Relate what you know about the structure of neurons and direction of information
flow to the anatomical organization of the spinal nerve.
1
NO dendrites
NO synapses on soma
4
Input from special
sensory organs
Classification of Neurons
There are several hundred different types of neurons that may be
classified by one or more of the following characteristics:
shape; multipolar, bipolar, unipolar, pseudounipolar, spiny,
pyramidal, etc.
modality; ex. sensory or motor
Ultrastructure of Neurons
Cell body input and integration
Postsynaptic regions (axo-somatic synapses)
Nissl substance
Axon hillock
Dendrites input and integration
Mixed polarity of microtubules
Postsynaptic regions (axo-dendritic synapses)
Dendritic spines
Axons conduction and output
Uniform polarity of microtubules
Initial segment
Node of Ranvier
Presynaptic regions (with output to neurons and other effector targets)
Histology of Dendrites
Somatodendritic Region = combined input region; dendrites and soma of the cell.
K. Harris 2004
Spines on a dendrite.
Reconstructed from serial EM
C. and D. abbreviations:
pre
ax
s.v.
PSD
dend
presynaptic
axon
synaptic vesicle
postsynaptic density
dendrite
Spine number and shape may correlate with neural function and can be modulated by a
variety of conditions:
- Spine number is lower in conditions marked by cognitive impairment, ex. Autism spectrum
disorders, Downs syndrome, depression, chronic stress, normal aging.
- Spine number is increased by environmental enrichment and estrogen replacement.
10
Unique features
Nissl substance a neuron-specific
arrangement of rER and polysomes that is
distributed throughout the cell body cytoplasm
(except in the axon hillock).
Axon hillock a region of cytoplasm in the cell
body that is adjacent to the axon and is devoid of
Nissl. Thought to be the trigger zone for the
action potential.
11
Neuronal
cell bodies
Axon hillock
The axon hillock is located within the cell body adjacent to where the axon
13
emerges. Axons have NO Nissl substance.
Histology of Axons
+-
++
+
+
Histology of Synapses
15
cell body
(soma)
Node of
Ranvier
nucleus
16
Axospinous
17
18
muscle
LM
muscle cell
EM
19
20
21
22
tubulin
- end (slow growing)
tubulin
+ end (fast growing)
Microtubules in neurons
Motor domain:
-ATPase
-MT-binding
Tail domain:
- MBO
Neuron-specific
Kinesin
Dynein
24
Squire et al., 2nd Edition, Fundamental Neuroscience
- ends
2. Fast retrograde:
- moves material toward the cell body,
toward the end of microtubules
- moves larger membrane-bound vesicles
e.g. prelysosomal, NGF and NGF-R
- motors are cytoplasmic dyneins
- rate of ~100-200 mm/day
+ ends
25
3.
- ends
+ ends
*Q:
26
Retrograde
axonal
transport
Retrograde tracing: Injection of tracer# into the region containing synaptic terminals is
followed by a period of time to allow retrograde transport of the label to the cell body.
28
# HRP (horseradish peroxidase) or FluoroGold
Transneuronal labeling. Anterograde tracing may lead to the release of the label at
terminals and its uptake into synaptic target neurons. This permits labeling of
pathways involving multiple neurons.
Retrograde
axonal
transport
29
30
What is the difference between neurons, neural cells, & nervous tissue?
Neural CELLS are various types or classes of:
neurons (this lecture) specialized for intercellular communication
glia (Dr. Mongin) wide variety of nervous system functions
Nervous TISSUE refers to structures that contain neural cells along with other cells
and constituents. For example,
nerves in PNS, including cranial nerves
Dorsal root ganglia (aka sensory ganglia) in PNS
Autonomic ganglia in PNS
Grey and/or white matter of brain and spinal cord in CNS (aka neuropil)
31
http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/Curriculum/VM8054/Labs/Lab9/Lab9.h
32
tm
Begin using correct terms for nervous tissue in the PNS and CNS.
34
Locate:
Spinal cord in cross section
Gray matter (dorsal & ventral horns)
Dorsal and Ventral Roots (Nerves)
Dorsal Root Ganglia
Nerves
- typical spinal nerves
- rami
- nerves
What is the direction of information35flow?
From Noback et al., The Human Nervous System 6th Ed 2012, Humana.
Cui, Atlas of Histology, 1st Edition, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (Chapter 7; pgs 115-133)
Kandel, Schwartz & Jessell, Principles of Neural Science, 4th Edition. Elsevier
Kierszenbaum, Histology and Cell Biology: An Introduction to Pathology (2nd Edition). Elsevier
Paulina textbook
Purves, et al., Neuroscience, 4th Edition. Sinauer
Squire, et al., Fundamental Neuroscience, 2nd Edition.
Henrikson, Megargel & Murphy, Histology Laboratory: An Interactive Review, CD Version 2.0