Summary
The morphological study of the rat fastigial nucleus with the Golgi-Rio Hortega method showed the presence of glial perineuronal nets surrounding the large neurons, but not the small ones. This perineuronal net appeared as a mesh of tenuous glial processes which covers the neuronal perikarya and proximal dendrites. The small alveolate compartments in this mesh seem to correspond to the holes for the synaptic boutons. Our results also indicate that the perineuronal net is derived from interneuronal protoplasmic and velate astrocytes.
Using camera lucida drawings of this perineuronal net we have made a quantitative estimation of the size and density of synaptic boutons on these large neurons. The average numerical density of synaptic boutons was about 19 per 100 μm2 of the neuronal surface, the mean area of the synaptic holes being 2.5 μm2. Furthermore, the quantitative data evidence that about 52.5% of the neuronal surface is presumably occupied by synaptic boutons whereas the remaining 47.5% is covered by the glial processes of the perineuronal net.
Semithin sections prepared from thick Golgi sections were used for the cytological study of the neurons surrounded by this glial pericellular network. The possible functional significance of the perineuronal net in the regulation of synaptic transmission in the fastigial cerebellar nucleus is briefly discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angaut P, Sotelo C (1973) The fine structure of the cerebellar central nuclei in the cat. II. Synaptic organization. Exp Brain Res 16:431–454
Beitz AJ, Chan-Palay V (1979a) The medial cerebellar nucleus in the rat: Nuclear volume, cell number, density and orientation. Neuroscience 4:31–45
Reitz AJ, Chan-Palay V (1979b) A Golgi analysis of neuronal organization in the medial cerebellar nucleus of the rat. Neuroscience 4:47–63
Brauer K, Werner L, Leibnitz L (1982) Perineuronal nets of glia. J Hirnforsch 23:701–708
Cajal SR (1890) A propos de certains éléments bipolares du cervelet. Intern Monatschrift f Anat u Physiol 7:13–23
Cajal SR (1897) La red superficial de las células nerviosas centrales. Rev Trim Micrograf 3:163–178
Cajal SR (1911) Histologie du système nerveux de l'homme et des vertébrés. A Maloine Pairs vol 2
Chan-Palay V (1977) Cerebellar dentate nucleus. Springer, Berlin pp 86–124
Chan-Palay V (1983) Immunocytochemical and autoradiographic methods to demonstrate the coexistence of neuroactive substances: Cerebellar Purkinje cells have glutamic acid decarboxylase, cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase, and motilin immunoreactivity. Acta Morphol Hung 31:193–212
Donaggio E (1901) Sulla presenza di sottili fibrille tra le maglie del retículo periferico nella cellula nervosa. Bibliographie Anatomique Fasc 4
Fahrenbach WH (1976) Stereo photomicrography of Golgi preparations. J Microsc 106:101–102
Golgi C (1898) Intorno alla struttura delle cellule nervose. Boll Soc Med-Chir (Pavia) 1–14
Held H (1897) Beiträge zur Struktur der Nervenzellen und ihrer Fortsätze. 3 Abhandlung Arch Anat Physiol Anat Suppl
Legrand Ch, Grandour MS, Clos J (1983) Histochemical and biochemical studies of butyrylcholinesterase activity in adult and developing cerebellum. Effects of abnormal thyroid state and undernutrition. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 9:433–453
Lugaro E (1895) Sulla struttura del nucleo dentato del cervelleto nell'uomo. Monit Zool Ital 6:5–12
Lugaro E (1907) Sulla funzioni della neuroglia. Riv Patol Nerv Ment 12:225–233
Matsushita M, Iwahori N (1971) Structural organization of the fastigial nucleus I. Dendrites and axonal pathways. Brain Res 25:597–610
Mestres P, Lafarga M (1972) Cholinesterase activity in the perineuronal net. Ann Histochim 17:135–139
O'Leary JL, Smith JM, Inukai J, Mejia HH (1972) Architectonics of the cerebellar nuclei in the rabbit. J Comp Neurol 144:399–428
Palay SL, Chan-Palay V (1974) Cerebellar cortex. Cytology and organization. Springer, Berlin 311:316
Rio-Hortega P (1928) Tercera aportación al conocimiento morfológico e interpretación funcional de la oligodendroglía. Mem Soc Esp Hist Nat 14:1–122
Sotelo C, Angaut P (1973) The fine structure of the cerebellar central nuclei in the cat I. Neurons and neuroglial cells. Exp Brain Res 16:410–430
Szentágothai J (1975) What the “reazione nera” has given to us. In: Santini M (ed) Golgi centennial symposium. Raven Press New York 1–12
Varon SS, Somjen GG (1979) Neuron-glia interactions. Neurosciences Res Prog Bull 17:1–239
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lafarga, M., Berciano, M.T. & Blanco, M. The perineuronal net in the fastigial nucleus of the rat cerebellum. Anat Embryol 170, 79–85 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319461
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319461