Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology logoLink to The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
. 1955 Jan 25;1(1):69–88. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.1.69

THE FINE STRUCTURE OF NEURONS

Sanford L Palay 1, George E Palade 1
PMCID: PMC2223597  PMID: 14381429

Abstract

1. Thin sections of representative neurons from intramural, sympathetic and dorsal root ganglia, medulla oblongata, and cerebellar cortex were studied with the aid of the electron microscope. 2. The Nissl substance of these neurons consists of masses of endoplasmic reticulum showing various degrees of orientation; upon and between the cisternae, tubules, and vesicles of the reticulum lie clusters of punctate granules, 10 to 30 mµ in diameter. 3. A second system of membranes can be distinguished from the endoplasmic reticulum of the Nissl bodies by shallower and more tightly packed cisternae and by absence of granules. Intermediate forms between the two membranous systems have been found. 4. The cytoplasm between Nissl bodies contains numerous mitochondria, rounded lipid inclusions, and fine filaments.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (3.1 MB).

Selected References

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

  1. BAHR G. F., BEERMANN W. The fine structure of the nuclear membrane in the larval salivary gland and midgut of Chironomus. Exp Cell Res. 1954 May;6(2):519–522. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(54)90200-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BEAMS H. W., VAN BREEMEN V. L., NEWFANG D. M., EVANS T. C. A correlated study on spinal ganglion cells and associated nerve fibers with the light and electron microscopes. J Comp Neurol. 1952 Apr;96(2):249–281. doi: 10.1002/cne.900960204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BERNHARD W., HAGUENAU F., GAUTIER A., OBERLING C. La structure submicroscopique des elements basophiles cytoplasmiques dans le foie, le pancreas et les glandes salivaires; étude de coupes ultrafines au microscope électronique. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1952;37(3):281–300. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BERNHARD W., HAUENAU F., OBERLING C. L'ultra-structure du nucléole de quelques cellules animales, révélée par le microscope électronique. Experientia. 1952 Feb 15;8(2):58–59. doi: 10.1007/BF02139019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. BORYSKO E., BANG F. B. Structure of the nucleolus as revealed by the electron microscope; a preliminary report. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1951 Dec;89(6):468–473. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CALLAN H. G., TOMLIN S. G. Experimental studies on amphibian oocyte nuclei. I. Investigation of the structure of the nuclear membrane by means of the electron microscope. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1950 Oct 13;137(888):367–378. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1950.0047. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DALTON A. J., FELIX M. D. Cytologic and cytochemical characteristics of the Golgi substance of epithelial cells of the epididymis in situ, in homogenates and after isolation. Am J Anat. 1954 Mar;94(2):171–207. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000940202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DALTON A. J., KAHLER H., STRIEBICH M. J., LLOYD B. Finer structure of hepatic, intestinal and renal cells of the mouse as revealed by the electron microscope. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1950 Oct;11(2):439–461. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. DUNCAN D., ANTES L. Some electron microscope observations on the structure of myelin sheath and axis cylinder in thin sections. Tex Rep Biol Med. 1950;8(3):329–340. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. FARQUHAR M. G., RINEHART J. F. Electron microscopic studies of the anterior pituitary gland of castrate rats. Endocrinology. 1954 May;54(5):516–541. doi: 10.1210/endo-54-5-516. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. FINEAN J. B., SJOSTRAND F. S., STEINMANN E. Submicroscopic organisation of some layered lipoprotein structures (nerve myelin, retinal rods, and chloroplasts). Exp Cell Res. 1953 Dec;5(2):557–559. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(53)90247-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HARTMANN J. F. An electron optical study of sections of central nervous system. J Comp Neurol. 1953 Aug;99(1):201–249. doi: 10.1002/cne.900990111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. HARTMANN J. F. Electron microscopy of motor nerve cells following section of axones. Anat Rec. 1954 Jan;118(1):19–33. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091180103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. HESS A., LANSING A. I. The fine structure of peripheral nerve fibers. Anat Rec. 1953 Oct;117(2):175–199. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091170205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. HUGHES A. The effect of fixation of neurons of the chick. J Anat. 1954 Apr;88(2):192–203. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. KOENIG H. Cytoplasmic nucleoprotein of living nerve cells grown in vitro. J Histochem Cytochem. 1954 Sep;2(5):334–340. doi: 10.1177/2.5.334. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. MAXFIELD M. Axoplasmic proteins of the squid giant nerve fiber with particular reference to the fibrous protein. J Gen Physiol. 1953 Nov 20;37(2):201–216. doi: 10.1085/jgp.37.2.201. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. PALADE G. E. A small particulate component of the cytoplasm. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Jan;1(1):59–68. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.1.59. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. PALADE G. E. A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J Exp Med. 1952 Mar;95(3):285–298. doi: 10.1084/jem.95.3.285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. PALADE G. E. An electron microscope study of the mitochondrial structure. J Histochem Cytochem. 1953 Jul;1(4):188–211. doi: 10.1177/1.4.188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. PALADE G. E., CLAUDE A. The nature of the Golgi apparatus; identification of the Golgi apparatus with a complex of myelin figures. J Morphol. 1949 Jul;85(1):71–111. doi: 10.1002/jmor.1050850104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. PALADE G. E., PORTER K. R. Studies on the endoplasmic reticulum. I. Its identification in cells in situ. J Exp Med. 1954 Dec 1;100(6):641–656. doi: 10.1084/jem.100.6.641. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. PALADE G. E. The fine structure of mitochondria. Anat Rec. 1952 Nov;114(3):427–451. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091140304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. PALAY S. L., WISSIG S. L. Secretory granules and Nissl substance in fresh supraoptic neurones of the rabbit. Anat Rec. 1953 Jul;116(3):301–313. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091160307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. PEASE D. C., BAKER R. F. Electron microscopy of nervous tissue. Anat Rec. 1951 Aug;110(4):505–529. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091100405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. PORTER K. R., BLUM J. A study in microtomy for electron microscopy. Anat Rec. 1953 Dec;117(4):685–710. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091170403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. PORTER K. R. Electron microscopy of basophilic components of cytoplasm. J Histochem Cytochem. 1954 Sep;2(5):346–375. doi: 10.1177/2.5.346. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. PORTER K. R. Observations on a submicroscopic basophilic component of cytoplasm. J Exp Med. 1953 May;97(5):727–750. doi: 10.1084/jem.97.5.727. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. RINEHART J. F., FARQUHAR M. G. Electron microscopic studies of the anterior pituitary gland. J Histochem Cytochem. 1953 Mar;1(2):93–113. doi: 10.1177/1.2.93. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. SCHMITT F. O., GEREN B. B. The fibrous structure of the nerve axon in relation to the localization of "neurotubules". J Exp Med. 1950 May 1;91(5):499–504. doi: 10.1084/jem.91.5.499. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. SLAUTTERBACK D. B. Electron microscopic studies of small cytoplasmic particles (microsomes). Exp Cell Res. 1953 Sep;5(1):173–186. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(53)90102-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES