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Special somatic spine synapses in the ciliary ganglion of the chick

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Summary

“Somatic spine synapses” modified with postsynaptic electron opaque materials were found in the axo-somatic ciliary ganglion synapse of the chick.

A part of the postsynaptic cell body protrudes into the presynaptic calyciform ending as a somatic spine with about 1 μ in length and 0.15 μ in diameter, and forms the so-called synaptic complex with presynaptic process. Moreover, conspicuous electron opaque materials can be seen in the central axis of the spine, except for its end portion. Sometimes, these opaque materials are seen as arrayed dots.

The morphological characteristics of the somatic spine synapses in this study are quite similar to that found in the habenula and interpeduncular nuclei of the cat (Milhaud and Pappas, 1966). the biological significance of which is obscure at present.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical College, Sapporo, Japan

    Kyozo Takahashi

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  1. Kyozo Takahashi
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This work was supported in part by grant from the Education Ministry of Japan.

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Takahashi, K. Special somatic spine synapses in the ciliary ganglion of the chick. Z. Zellforsch. 83, 70–75 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334741

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334741

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