AFFERENT DIVISION = Carries sensory information, from PNS sensory receptors to CNS

EFFERENT DIVISION = Carries motor commands, from CNS to PNS muscles and glands

NEURAL TISSUE consists of 2 cell types:

(A) Neurons (B) Neuroglia
= Nerve cells that are responsible for the transfer = Supporting cells
and processing of information in the nervous system = Protect the neuron
= Consist of a soma, axon, and dendrites

(A) NEURONS

INFORMATION FLOW DOWN A NEURON - STEPS

1. dendrites, cell body receive incoming signals
2. soma (cell body) = perikaryon
3. axon hillock
4. initial segment of axon (AP originates here)
5. axon
6. synaptic terminals
7. synapse
8. postsynaptic cell

The neuron of the Schwann cell

is located in the myelin segment.

Components of a neuron
HISTOLOGY OF NEURONS IN THE CNS (SPINAL CORD) Central Nervous System

Suitable staining methods for sections of the spinal cord -

1. luxol fast bluecresyl violet (LFB/CV)
2. haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)

1. Thoracic Spinal Cord, sheep - LFB/CV

Most neurones have a light, large nucleus with a distinct nucleolus.

The cytoplasm of many neurones contains fairly large amounts of rough endoplasmatic reticulum, which may aggregate
within the cytoplasm of the neurone to form Nissl-bodies.

Nissl-bodies
= prominent in motor neurones located in the ventral horn of the grey matter of the spinal cord
= densley packed ribosomes; cause gray color called gray matter

The neurites are difficult to identify in most types of stained sections. Only the most proximal segments of the
primary dendrites are seen clearly. The size of the perikaryon depends on the level of activity of the neurone and
the length of the processes which the neurone has to support. An usable range for the size of the perikaryon would
be 15 - 50 m, although much smaller and much larger neuronal perikarya exist.

Draw the spinal cord at low magnification and indicate the distribution of grey matter and white matter.
Find a nice group of neurones in the grey matter and draw them at a high magnification.
Finally, have a look at the white matter and identify the nuclei of glial cells. You will find similar nuclei also in the grey matter.

GLIAL CELL NUCLEUS SPINAL CORD

 Central Nervous System

2. Thoracic spinal Cord - H&E, silver stain

These slides show the same major features as the LFB/CV stained sections.
Try to identify neurones (primary dendrites, Nissl-bodies) and glial cell nuclei in the H&E stained section.
Differentiate between grey and white matter.

The LFB stain showed the myelin sheath nicely. In the H&E stained section we instead can see large, cross-sectioned
axons in the white matter. The feltwork of nerve fibres, neuronal and glial cell processes is also called neuropil.

Part of the cytoskeleton of neurones is (like the reticular connective tissue fibers) argyrophilic, i.e. they "love" silver and
can be stained by silver stains. Aside from the neurones and their processes, fine fibrils are visible in the neuropil.
Many of the fibrils represent axons travelling in the grey and white matter of the spinal cord.

In all three stains, the white 'halo' around the neurones is an artefact.

It should not be necessary to prepare separate drawings for these slides.

Make sure that you can identify the main structural features in all preparations.

SPINAL CORD - H&E STAIN SPINAL CORD - SILVER STAIN

 Central Nervous System

HISTOLOGY OF GLIA IN THE CNS (SPINAL CORD)

CNS tissue contains several types of non-neuronal, supporting cells, neuroglia.

1. Oligodendrocytes (or oligoglia) have fewer and shorter processes than astrocytes. Oligodendrocytes form myelin sheath
(see below) around axons in the CNS and are the functional homologue of peripheral Schwann cells. Oligodendrocytes
in the CNS may form parts of the myelin sheath around several axons (in contrast to Schwann cells in the periphery,
that do not).

2. Astrocytes (or astroglia) are star-shaped cells. Their processes are often in contact with a blood vessel (perivascular
foot processes). Astrocytes provide mechanical and metabolic support to the neurones of the CNS. They participate
in the maintenance of the composition of the extracellular fluid. Although not themselves directly involved in the
process of communication between neurones, they may be involved in the removal of transmitters from synapses
and the metabolism of transmitters. Astrocytes are also the scar-forming cells of the CNS.
 Central Nervous System

3. Microglia are small cells with complex shapes. Microglia are, in contrast to neurones and the other types of glial cells,
of mesodermal origin. They are derived from the cell line which also gives rise to monocytes, i.e. macrophage precursors
which circulate in the blood stream. In the case of tissue damage, microglia can proliferate and differentiate into phagocytotic
cells.

4. The ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord are lined with ependymal cells. The cells are often cilated
and form a simple cuboidal or low columnar epithelium. The lack of tight junctions between ependymal cells allows a
free exchange between cerebrospinal fluid and nervous tissue.

Ependymal cells can specialise into tanycytes, which are rarely ciliated and have long basal processes. Tanycytes form the
ventricular lining over the few CNS regions in which the blood-brain barrier is incomplete. They do form tight junctions and
control the exchange of substances between these regions and surrounding nervous tissue or cerebrospinal fluid.

Many glial cells do express neurotransmitter receptors. Neuronal activity may regulate glial function by a spillover of
transmitter from synaptic sites, which are typically surrounded by fine processes of glial cells. Occasionally, neurones
also make synapse-like contacts with glia cells. Glial cells may also communicate with each other via GAP junctions.
 Central Nervous System
Suitable staining methods for sections of the forebrain -
1. Giemsa

1. Forebrain, Cortex, mouse - Giemsa and Forebrain, Hippocampus, mouse - Giemsa

Most glial cells are much smaller than neurones. Their nuclei are generally much smaller than neuronal nuclei, and they
rarely contain an easily visible nucleolus. Other aspects of their morphology are variable. The glial cytoplasm is, if visible
at all, very weakly stained. Different types of glial cells cannot be easily distinguished by their appearance in this type
of preparation. Most of the small nuclei located in the white matter of the CNS, where they may form short rows, are
likely to represent oligodendrocytes.

Browse through the sections at low or medium magnification and try to get a feeling for the structural diversity visible
in the section available to you - parts of the section that look different from others are very likely to have different functions.

1 = molecular (plexiform) layer

2 = outer granular layer

3 = pyramidal cell layer

4 = inner granular layer

5 = ganglionic layer

6 = multiform cell layer

7 = bodies of neurons of ganglionic

cell layer
Central Nervous System