Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Cell Biology logoLink to The Journal of Cell Biology
. 1970 Apr 1;45(1):100–117. doi: 10.1083/jcb.45.1.100

CYTOPLASMIC INCLUSIONS RESEMBLING NUCLEOLI IN SYMPATHETIC NEURONS OF ADULT RATS

Mary A Grillo 1
PMCID: PMC2107984  PMID: 5458990

Abstract

A distinctive cytoplasmic inclusion consisting of a convoluted network of electron-opaque strands embedded in a less dense matrix was identified in the neurons, but not in the supporting cells, of rat sympathetic ganglia. This ball-like structure, designated "nematosome," measures ∼ 0.9 µ and lacks a limiting membrane. Its strands (diameter = 400–600 A) appear to be made of an entanglement of tightly packed filaments and particles ∼ 25–50 A thick. Cytochemical studies carried out with the light microscope suggest the presence of nonhistone proteins and some RNA. Usually only one such structure is present in a cell, and it appears to occur in most ganglion cells. Although they can be seen anywhere in the cell body, nematosomes are typically located in the perinuclear cytoplasm, where they are often associated with smooth-surfaced and coated vesicles. In fine structure and stainability, they bear a resemblance to the fibrous component of the nucleolus. Subsynaptic formations, which are a special feature of some of the synapses in sympathetic ganglia, appear similar to the threadlike elements in the nematosomes. The possibility that these three structures—nucleolus, nematosome, and subsynaptic formation—may be interrelated in origin and function is discussed.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (2.6 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alfert M., Geschwind I. I. A Selective Staining Method for the Basic Proteins of Cell Nuclei. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1953 Oct;39(10):991–999. doi: 10.1073/pnas.39.10.991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BLOCH D. P., HEW H. Y. Schedule of spermatogenesis in the pulmonate snail Helix aspersa, with special reference to histone transition. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1960 Jun;7:515–532. doi: 10.1083/jcb.7.3.515. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BUNGE R. P., BUNGE M. B., PETERSON E. R. AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF CULTURED RAT SPINAL CORD. J Cell Biol. 1965 Feb;24:163–191. doi: 10.1083/jcb.24.2.163. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bloom F. E., Aghajanian G. K. Cytochemistry of synapses: selective staining for electron microscopy. Science. 1966 Dec 23;154(3756):1575–1577. doi: 10.1126/science.154.3756.1575. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bloom F. E., Aghajanian G. K. Fine structural and cytochemical analysis of the staining of synaptic junctions with phosphotungstic acid. J Ultrastruct Res. 1968 Mar;22(5):361–375. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(68)90027-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FRIEDMANN I., CAWTHORNE T., BIRD E. S. THE LAMINATED CYTOPLASMIC INCLUSIONS IN THE SENSORY EPITHELIUM OF THE HUMAN MACULA. FURTHER ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS IN M'ENI'ERE'S DISEASE. J Ultrastruct Res. 1965 Feb;12:92–103. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(65)80008-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GRAY E. G. Electron microscopy of presynaptic organelles of the spinal cord. J Anat. 1963 Jan;97:101–106. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gambetti P., Gonatas N. K., Flexner L. B. The fine structure of puromycin-induced changes in mouse entorhinal cortex. J Cell Biol. 1968 Feb;36(2):379–390. doi: 10.1083/jcb.36.2.379. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. HAGGAR R. A. Behavior of the accessory body of Cajal during axon reaction. J Comp Neurol. 1957 Oct;108(2):269–283. doi: 10.1002/cne.901080206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HILDING D. A., HOUSE W. F. AN EVALUATION OF THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL FINDINGS IN THE UTRICLE IN MENIERE'S DISEASE. Laryngoscope. 1964 Aug;74:1135–1148. doi: 10.1288/00005537-196408000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HUXLEY H. E., ZUBAY G. Preferential staining of nucleic acid-containing structures for electron microscopy. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Nov;11:273–296. doi: 10.1083/jcb.11.2.273. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hay E. D., Gurdon J. B. Fine structure of the nucleolus in normal and mutant Xenopus embryos. J Cell Sci. 1967 Jun;2(2):151–162. doi: 10.1242/jcs.2.2.151. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hyde B. B., Sankaranarayanan K., Birnstiel M. L. Observations on fine structure in pea nucleoli in situ and isolated. J Ultrastruct Res. 1965 Jun;12(5):652–667. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(65)80054-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Jones K. W. The role of the nucleolus in the formation of ribosomes. J Ultrastruct Res. 1965 Oct;13(3):257–262. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(65)80074-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Karlsson U. Three-dimensional studies of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rat. I. Organelle organization in the perikaryon and its proximal branches. J Ultrastruct Res. 1966 Dec;16(5):429–481. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(66)80001-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lord A., Lafontaine J. G. The organization of the nucleolus in meristematic plant cells. A cytochemical study. J Cell Biol. 1969 Mar;40(3):633–647. doi: 10.1083/jcb.40.3.633. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lund R. D. Synaptic patterns of the superficial layers of the superior colliculus of the rat. J Comp Neurol. 1969 Feb;135(2):179–208. doi: 10.1002/cne.901350205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. MCEWEN L. M. The effect on the isolated rabbit heart of vagal stimulation and its modification by cocaine, hexamethonium and ouabain. J Physiol. 1956 Mar 28;131(3):678–689. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1956.sp005493. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. MORALES R., DUNCAN D., REHMET R. A DISTINCTIVE LAMINATED CYTOPLASMIC BODY IN THE LATERAL GENICULATE BODY NEURONS OF THE CAT. J Ultrastruct Res. 1964 Feb;10:116–123. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(64)90025-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Milhaud M., Pappas G. D. Postsynaptic bodies in the habenula and interpeduncular nuclei of the cat. J Cell Biol. 1966 Aug;30(2):437–441. doi: 10.1083/jcb.30.2.437. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Morales R., Duncan D. A special type of filament in the Purkinje cells of the Syrian Hamster. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1967;83(1):49–52. doi: 10.1007/BF00334738. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Morales R., Duncan D. Multilaminated bodies and other unusual configurations of endoplasmic reticulum in the cerebellum of the cat. An electron microscopic study. J Ultrastruct Res. 1966 Aug;15(5):480–489. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(66)80120-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Mugnaini E., Walberg F., Hauglie-Hanssen E. Observations on the fine structure of the lateral vestibular nucleus (Deiters' nucleus) in the cat. Exp Brain Res. 1967;4(2):146–186. doi: 10.1007/BF00240360. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Nathaniel E. J., Nathaniel D. R. The ultrastructural features of the synapses in the posterior horn of the spinal cord in the rat. J Ultrastruct Res. 1966 Mar;14(5):540–555. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(66)80081-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Nayyar R. P., Barr M. L. Histochemical studies on the accessory body of cajal in neurones of the cat. J Comp Neurol. 1968 Jan;132(1):125–134. doi: 10.1002/cne.901320107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. PALAY S. L., McGEE-RUSSELL S. M., GORDON S., Jr, GRILLO M. A. Fixation of neural tissues for electron microscopy by perfusion with solutions of osmium tetroxide. J Cell Biol. 1962 Feb;12:385–410. doi: 10.1083/jcb.12.2.385. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Pease D. C. Polysaccharides associated with the exterior surface of epithelial cells: kidney, intestine, brain. J Ultrastruct Res. 1966 Aug;15(5):555–588. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(66)80128-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Peters A., Palay S. L. The morphology of laminae A and A1 of the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body of the cat. J Anat. 1966 Jul;100(Pt 3):451–486. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. ROSENBLUTH J. The fine structure of acoustic ganglia in the rat. J Cell Biol. 1962 Feb;12:329–359. doi: 10.1083/jcb.12.2.329. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Rosenbluth J. Redundant myelin sheaths and other ultrastructural features of the toad cerebellum. J Cell Biol. 1966 Jan;28(1):73–93. doi: 10.1083/jcb.28.1.73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. SEITE R., CHAMBOST G., PICARD D. Images d'une neurosécrétion d'origine nucléaire dans les ganglions du système nerveux végétatif chez ie chat. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1954 Mar;148(5-6):558–560. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. SMITH J. M., O'LEARY J. L., HARRIS A. B., GAY A. J. ULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE LATERAL GENICULATE NUCLEUS OF THE CAT. J Comp Neurol. 1964 Dec;123:357–377. doi: 10.1002/cne.901230305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Shimizu N., Ishii S. Electron-microscopic observations on nucleolar extrusion in nerve cells of the rat hypothalamus. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1965 Jul 30;67(3):367–372. doi: 10.1007/BF00339382. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. TEWARI H. B., BOURNE G. H. The histochemistry of the nucleus and nucleolus with reference to nucleo-cytoplasmic relations in the spinal ganglion neuron of the rat. Acta Histochem. 1962 Jul 25;13:323–350. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. THOMPSON B. K., HAGGAR R. A., BARR M. L. The accessory body of Cajal in nerve cell nuclei of the cat. J Comp Neurol. 1957 Oct;108(2):253–267. doi: 10.1002/cne.901080205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Takahashi K., Hama K. Some observations on the fine structure of nerve cell bodies and their satellite cells in the ciliary ganglion of the chick. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1965 Sep 17;67(6):835–843. doi: 10.1007/BF00339304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Taylor R. L. A fibrous banded structure in a crop lesion of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae. J Ultrastruct Res. 1967 Jul;19(1):130–141. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(67)80063-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Toro I., Jr, Rohlich P. A new cytoplasmic component in the trophoblast cells of the rat and mouse. Anat Rec. 1966 Jul;155(3):385–399. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091550310. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. VENABLE J. H., COGGESHALL R. A SIMPLIFIED LEAD CITRATE STAIN FOR USE IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. J Cell Biol. 1965 May;25:407–408. doi: 10.1083/jcb.25.2.407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Cell Biology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES