Summary
The fine structure of the synaptic area in the ciliary ganglion from 10-days chick embryo to the adult was studied by electron microscopy.
The ciliary ganglion cell is unipolar and a considerable surface of which is covered by the calyx terminal. The peripheral part of the calyx divides into several terminal knobs and form a basket terminal.
Four types of contact configurations were observed in the calyciform ending: 1) contact area without membrane specialization which occupies the most part of the contact, 2) desmo-some-like structure which is observed in various places of the contact surface, 3) synaptic complex and 4) close apposition of apposing plasma membranes.
The presence of the synaptic complex and the close appositon of apposed plasma membranes seems to correspond to the dual natures of the transmission obtained by Martin and Pilar (1963a, b).
In addition, some considerations were made on the subsurface cistern and on the possible functional significance of the myelin sheath surrounding the ganglion cell and the calyx.
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This work was supported in part by Grant NB-03348-03 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.
Dr. Takahashi wishes to express his sincere thanks to Professor S. Watanabe, Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical College, who offered an opportunity for doing work at the Department of Anatomy, Hiroshima University.
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Takahashi, K., Hama, K. Some observations on the fine structure of the synaptic area in the ciliary ganglion of the chick. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 67, 174–184 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344467
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344467