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On the structure of the human striate area. Lamina IVcβ

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Summary

Layer IVcβ of the human striate area consists mainly of a great number of small spinous local circuit neurons which store numerous characteristic lipofuscin granules. Since the neurons of the neighbouring layers are almost devoid of pigment deposits the boundaries of lamina IVcβ are easily traceable. Hence, the pigment granules can be used as internal markers to unequivocally identify these small pigmented spinous local circuit neurons of lamina IVcβ in ultrathin sections. They have a large spherical nucleus surrounded by a narrow cytoplasmic rim poor in organelles, and very scarcely receive axosomatic symmetric synapses.

Within layer IVcβ four types of synaptic boutons can be distinguished. Type-1-boutons are large, contain a few and loosely arranged round vesicles and make asymmetric synaptic contacts with dendrites and dendritic spines. The type-2-boutons which are also large are filled with densely packed round vesicles which accumulate at the presynaptic membrane. The large type-3-boutons are characterized by elongated vesicles and symmetric synaptic contact zones. These boutons generate several fingerlike protrusions. Small profiles which contain elongated vesicles and form symmetric synaptic contacts, are most probably parts of these protrusions. The large amount of small boutons with round vesicles and asymmetric synaptic contact zones are tentatively described as type-4-boutons although it is far from certain that they represent a uniform class. The presumable origins of the different types of boutons are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomisches Institut der UniversitÄt Kiel, Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany

    E. Braak

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. med. H. Leonhardt in honor of his 60th birthday

Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Br. 634/1)

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Braak, E. On the structure of the human striate area. Lamina IVcβ. Cell Tissue Res. 188, 217–234 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222632

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