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The fine structure of “non-specific” grey matter (Laminae V and VII) in the cat spinal cord

Summary

Quantitative electron microscopical observations have been made on the afferent synaptology of neurones in laminae V and VII of the cervical spinal cord of the cat. Both laminae contain large bouton-covered polydendritic neurones of the type seen in the brainstem reticular formation. Each lamina contains two other categories of neurone. One of these, in lamina V, is peculiar in having a very high proportion of afferent boutons filled with dense-core vesicles; similar neurones exist in lamina VII, but their presynaptic afferents do not contain unusual quantities of dense-core vesicles. The third type of neurone in laminae V and VII seems to be identical with an oligodendritic neurone type found in the brainstem reticular formation and parafascicular-centromedian complex.

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Work performed during tenure of a Royal Society European Programme Fellowship.

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Westman, J., Bowsher, D. The fine structure of “non-specific” grey matter (Laminae V and VII) in the cat spinal cord. Exp Brain Res 12, 379–388 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234493

Key Words

  • Electron microscopy
  • Spinal cord
  • Neurone
  • Synapse