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Ultrastructure of Motoneurons and Synapses in the Nuclei of the Oculomotor Nerves in Mice

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The ultrastructure of motoneurons and synapses in the somatic zone of the oculomotor nerve nuclei was studied in C57 Black/6 mice. Axodendritic and axosomatic synapses were characterized by round densities (round subjunctional densities) located in the postsynaptic part of the synapse some distance from the postsynaptic density. The synaptic cleft close to subjunctional densities was widened to up to 30 μm. Other parts of the cleft in the same synapse could be narrowed almost twofold. Axosomatic and axodendritic spiny synapses were found. Motoneuron bodies and dendrites bore synapses of the en passant type. Gap junctions were not seen.

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Correspondence to R. Sh. Shtanchaev.

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Translated from Morfologiya, Vol. 147, No. 2, pp. 21–25, March–April, 2015.

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Shtanchaev, R.S., Mikheeva, I.B., Pen’kova, N.A. et al. Ultrastructure of Motoneurons and Synapses in the Nuclei of the Oculomotor Nerves in Mice. Neurosci Behav Physi 46, 224–228 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-015-0222-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-015-0222-5

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