Biomaterial Database

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of cat lumbar paravertebral neurones. 1988

W H Percy, and J Walsh, and J Krier

Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.

The morphological and electrophysiological properties of neurones in the 3rd, 4th and 5th cat lumbar paravertebral ganglia were studied in vitro utilising intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and intracellular electrophysiological recording techniques. Projections of neurones (T13-L5) were determined by in vivo HRP techniques. Two distinct soma morphologies were noted in all ganglia. Those whose long and short axes were approximately equal in length were designated as being 'spherical' and had a mean cross sectional area of 730 micron2. The remainder, whose long axis was at least 1.5 times the length of their short axis were called 'fusiform' and had a mean soma area of 540 micron2. The two cell types occurred in an approximate 2:1 ratio, respectively. The mean numbers of primary, secondary and tertiary dendrites for the population studied were 6.5, 6.3 and 3.4, respectively. Spherical cells had significantly more of each than fusiform cells as well as having a greater number of branch points and overall length of dendritic arbor. Neither cell type could be distinguished from the other based on the estimated number of fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials, the duration of the afterspike hyperpolarization or the duration of action potential discharge in response to 8-10-s depolarizing current pulses. The estimated number of synaptic potentials associated with both types of neurones (mean 10.6 +/- 1.6) correlated inversely only with the soma diameters (see Materials and Methods). It is concluded that while cat lumbar paravertebral neuronal soma may be classified into two morphologically distinct types, this is not reflected in their electrophysiological profiles. In addition, these data suggest that cat lumbar paravertebral neurones have a dendritic appearance and a degree of convergence of synaptic input previously shown to occur in this system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007267	Injections	Introduction of substances into the body using a needle and syringe.	Injectables,Injectable,Injection
D008161	Lumbosacral Region	Region of the back including the LUMBAR VERTEBRAE, SACRUM, and nearby structures.	Lumbar Region,Lumbar Regions,Lumbosacral Regions,Region, Lumbar,Region, Lumbosacral,Regions, Lumbar,Regions, Lumbosacral
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
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
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005728	Ganglia, Sympathetic	Ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system including the paravertebral and the prevertebral ganglia. Among these are the sympathetic chain ganglia, the superior, middle, and inferior cervical ganglia, and the aorticorenal, celiac, and stellate ganglia.	Celiac Ganglia,Sympathetic Ganglia,Celiac Ganglion,Ganglion, Sympathetic,Ganglia, Celiac,Ganglion, Celiac,Sympathetic Ganglion
D006735	Horseradish Peroxidase	An enzyme isolated from horseradish which is able to act as an antigen. It is frequently used as a histochemical tracer for light and electron microscopy. Its antigenicity has permitted its use as a combined antigen and marker in experimental immunology.	Alpha-Peroxidase,Ferrihorseradish Peroxidase,Horseradish Peroxidase II,Horseradish Peroxidase III,Alpha Peroxidase,II, Horseradish Peroxidase,III, Horseradish Peroxidase,Peroxidase II, Horseradish,Peroxidase III, Horseradish,Peroxidase, Ferrihorseradish,Peroxidase, Horseradish
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
D013569	Synapses	Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.	Synapse