Premium
The fine structure of glial cells in the chicken
Author(s) -
Lyser Katherine M.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.901460106
Subject(s) - biology , cytoplasm , endoplasmic reticulum , astrocyte , spinal cord , neurofilament , oligodendrocyte , microtubule , intermediate filament , neuroglia , glycogen , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , myelin , cell , neuroscience , central nervous system , cytoskeleton , immunohistochemistry , biochemistry , immunology
The glial cells of the chicken spinal cord and optic nerve, studied after aldehyde fixation, are comparable in fine structure to those of mammals and other vertebrates. Most astrocytes are characterized by an overall low density and cytoplasmic filaments, which vary in quantity and may occur in prominent bundles or may be scattered. Particular features in the chicken include the observations that the lumbar level of the spinal cord seems to be the only region, of those studied, in which astrocytes contain glycogen particles. Astrocyte processes with very dense cytoplasm, in addition to typical light ones, were observed, particularly in the glia limitans. Oligodendrocytes are characterized by a greater overall density, more extensive granular endoplasmic reticulum, more numerous microtubules, and absence of cytoplasmic filaments. The variations in cell type involve mainly the granular endoplasmic reticulum, ranging from short, scattered to long, stacked cisternae, and the texture of the nuclei.