Summary
Electron microscopic studies of ultrathin serial sections of the perikarya and adjacent neuropil of neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the adult male rat revealed varying forms of two types of somatic spines. One type forms synapses with axons passing the cell, the other, without synapses, appears to serve as a buttress or clasp for adjacent neuronal and glial processes. The synapse-bearing spines lack the usual spine apparatus but contain the flocculent substance often seen in spines. The other spines do not exhibit either of these structures. These somatic spines were also seen in Golgi impregnated preparations but the types could not be distinguished. Certain axons synapse either on a somatic spine of the perikarya or penetrate the glial sheath of the neuron and synapse, usually repeatedly, on the soma in an en passant manner.
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Supported by a research grant (5 ROl NS 07825) from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.
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Ifft, J.D., McCarthy, L. Somatic spines in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus. Cell Tissue Res. 148, 203–211 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224582
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224582