Ultrastructure of the gracile nucleus projection to the dorsal accessory subdivision of the cat inferior olive. 1987

H H Molinari

This study examined the termination pattern within the dorsal accessory subdivision of the cat inferior olive of axons arising from the gracile nucleus. The gracile terminals were labeled by anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin complexed to horseradish peroxidase and visualized with tetramethyl benzidine. Gracile terminals were found to contain round synaptic vesicles and form asymmetric synaptic contacts. Of particular interest was the finding that gracile axons, like axons from the spinal cord, terminate primarily outside of synaptic glomeruli. Yet most of the gracile terminals did not synapse on isolated dendritic elements. Rather, the majority contacted distal dendrites which directly contacted other dendritic elements, forming simple complexes termed dendritic thickets. Typically the dendritic thickets were composed of two or three dendrites that received input from more than one round vesicle-containing synaptic terminal. Only one terminal per thicket was labeled by injections in the gracile nucleus. This clustering of pre- and postsynaptic elements within the thickets provides opportunities for many of the same interactions allowed by synaptic glomeruli, in particular divergence and convergence of information.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009411 Nerve Endings Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009847 Olivary Nucleus A brainstem nuclear complex. in the hindbrain, also referred to as the olivary body. The olivary nuclear complex is a part of the MEDULLA OBLONGATA and the PONTINE TEGMENTUM. It is involved with motor control and is a major source of sensory input to the CEREBELLUM. Basal Nucleus, Olivary,Nucleus Basalis, Olivary,Olivary Body,Olivary Complex,Olivary Nuclei,Complex, Olivary,Nucleus, Olivary,Nucleus, Olivary Basal,Olivary Basal Nucleus,Olivary Bodies
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D003712 Dendrites Extensions of the nerve cell body. They are short and branched and receive stimuli from other NEURONS. Dendrite
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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