Summary
The ultrastructure of intranuclear rodlets, microtubules, fibrillar lattices and membranous inclusions found in the developing cuneate nuclei of rats is described. Rodlets, ranging in diameter from 96–312 nm and in length from 1–2 μm, are made up of tightly packed straight filaments measuring 5–8 nm in diameter. Microtubules with a diameter of 26 nm are clustered together. Fibrillar lattices are made up of fibrils with a diameter of 9 nm arranged in layers or sets. Two to nine sets make up a lattice, with a maximum width of 68 nm, in which the adjacent sets are arranged at an angle to each other. Rodlets and fibrillar lattices occur in 6.8% of the neurons. Membranous inclusions, reported here for the first time in normal neurons, are of 2 types: small vesicles of 0.1–0.6 μm and large vacuoles measuring 1–2 μm. Both types are bounded by either a single or a double membrane and generally have an electron lucent content. Membranous inclusions occur in 25.3 % of the neurons. Changes in the frequency of occurrence of the various intranuclear inclusions in the course of postnatal development are also reported.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bucciarelli, E.: Intranuclear cisternae resembling structures of the Golgi complex. J. Cell Biol. 30, 664–665 (1966)
Chandler, R.L., Willis, R.: An intranuclear fibrillar lattice in neurons. J. Cell Sci. 1, 283–286 (1966)
Colonnier, M.I.: On the nature of intranuclear rods. J. Cell Biol. 25, 646–653 (1965)
Cragg, B.G.: Ultrastructural features of human cerebral cortex. J. Anat. (Lond.) 121, 331–362 (1976)
David, S.: Ultrastructural observations on postnatal development of neurons of nucleus cuneatus in the rat. Anat. Rec. 187, 563 (1977) (Abstr.)
Hannah, R.S., Nathaniel, E.J.H.: Ultrastructural studies on postnatal differentiation of neurons in the substantia gelatinosa of the rat cervical spinal cord. Anat. Rec. 183, 323–338 (1975)
Hinsch, G.W.: Possible role of intranuclear membranes in nuclear-cytoplasmic exchange in spider crab oocytes. J. Cell Biol. 47, 531–535 (1970)
Holmgren, E.: Weitere Mitteilungen über den Bau der N. Nervenzellen. Anat. Anz. 16, 388–397 (1899)
Karlsson, U.: Three-dimensional studies of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rat. 1. Organelle organization in the perikaryon and its proximal branches. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 16, 429–481 (1966)
Kim, S.U., Masurovsky, E.B., Benitez, H.H., Murray, M.R.: Histochemical studies of the intranuclear rodlet in neurons of chicken sympathetic and sensory ganglia. Histochemie, 24, 33–40 (1970)
Lenhossék, M.: Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Zwischenzellen des Hodens. Arch. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. (Lpz.) 65-85 (1897)
Liu. R.P.C.: Electron and light microscopic correlation of intranuclear bodies of neurons of PAG. Anat. Rec. 190, 462 (1978) (Abstr.)
Liu, R.P.C., Hamilton, B.L.: Intranuclear bodies in neurons of the periaqueductal gray matter in the cat. Amer. J. Anat. 147, 139–146 (1976)
Mann, G.: Histological changes induced in sympathetic, motor and sensory nerve cells by functional activity. J. Anat. (Paris) 29, 100–108 (1894)
Masurovsky, E.B., Benitez, H.H., Kim, S.U., Murray, M.R.: Origin, development and nature of intranuclear rodlets and associated bodies in chicken sympathetic neurons. J. Cell Biol. 44, 172–191 (1970)
Nathaniel, E.J.H., Nathaniel, D.R.: Fine structure of the neurons of the posterior horn in the rat spinal cord. Anat. Rec. 155, 629–641 (1966)
Ramón y Cajal, S.: Histologie du système nerveux de l'homme et des vertébrés, Vol. 1, Paris: Malone 1909
Roncoroni, L.: Su un nuovo reperto nel nucleo delle cellule nervose. Arch. Psicol. Neurol. Psichiat. 16, 447–450 (1895)
Scharrer, B., Wurzelmann, S.: Ultrastructural study on nuclear-cytoplasmic relationships in oocytes of the African lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus. II. The microtubular apparatus of the nuclear envelope. Z. Zellforsch. 101, 1–12 (1969)
Seïte, R., Escaig, J., Couineau, S.: Microfilaments et microtubules nucléaires et organisation ultrastructurale des batonnets intranucléaires des neurones sympathiques, J. Ultrastruct. Res. 37, 449–478 (1971a)
Seïte, R., Leonetti, J., Luciani-Vaillet, J., Vio, M.: Cyclic AMP and ultrastructural organization of the nerve cell nucleus: stimulation of nuclear microtubules and microfilaments assembly in sympathetic neurons. Brain Res. 124, 41–51 (1977)
Seïte, R., Mei, N., Couineau, S.: Modification quantitative des batonnets intranucléaires des neurones sympathiques sous l'influence de la stimulation électrique. Brain Res. 34, 277–290 (1971b)
Siegesmund, K.A., Dutta, C.R., Fox, C.A.: The ultrastructure of the intranuclear rodlet in certain nerve cells. J. Anat. (Lond.) 98, 93–97 (1964)
Sotelo, C., Palay, S.L.: The fine structure of the lateral vestibular nucleus in the rat. I. Neurons and neuroglial cells. J. Cell Biol. 36, 151–179 (1968)
Tripier, M.F., Berard, M., Toga, M.: Membranous nuclear bodies as possible intermediate structures between nuclear bodies and invaginations of the nuclear envelope. J. Microscopie 21, 21–30 (1974)
Willey, T.J., Schultz, R.L.: Intranuclear inclusions in neurons of the cat primary olfactory system. Brain Res. 29, 31–45 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
David, S., Nathaniel, E.J.H. Intranuclear inclusions in the developing neurons of the rat cuneate nuclei. Cell Tissue Res. 193, 525–532 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225348
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225348