Summary
Nerve cell types of the neocortex-dependent nuclei of the human thalamus were investigated with the use of a transparent Golgi technique, that allows one to study not only the peculiarities of the cell processes, but also the marking characteristics of the intraneuronal lipofuscin pigment deposits. Three principal types of neurons have been distinguished:
Type I is a medium-sized to large neuron with a profusely radiating dendrite system. Numerous large vacuolated pofuscin granules are cotained in one pole of the cell body.
Type II is a small to medium-sized neuron with a few sparsely branching dendrites. Small and intensely stained pigment granules are dispersed within the cell body.
Type III is a medium-sized to large neuron with only a few thick and almost unbranched dendrites devoid of spiny appendages. The dendrites extend over long distances. The cell body is devoid of lipofuscin granules.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrew J, Watkins ES (1969) A stereotaxic atals of the human thalamus and adjacent structures. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore
Braak E, Braak H (1983) On three types of large nerve cells in the granular layer of the human cerebellar cortex. Anat Embryol 166:67–86
braak H (1978) On the pigmentarchitectonics of the human telencephalic cortex. In: MAB Brazier, H Petsche (eds) Architectonics of the cerebral cortex. Raven Press, New York, pp 137–157
Braak H (1980) Atchitectonics of the human telencephalic cortex. In: V Braitenberg, HB Barlow, E Bizzi, E Florey, OJ Grüsser, H van der Loos (eds) Studies of brain function, Vol 4. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1–147
Braak H (1983) Transparent Golgi impregnations: a way to examine body details of cellular processes and components of the cell body. Stain Technol 58:91–95
Braak H (in press) Architectonics as seen by lipofuscin stains. In: EG Jones, A Peters (eds) Cerebral cortex. Plenum Press, New York
Braak H, Braak E (1982a) Neuronal types in the claustrum of man. Anat Embryol 163:447–460
Braak H, Braak E (1982b) Neuronal types in the striatum of man. Cell Tissue Res 227:319–342
Braak H, Braak E (1983) Morphological studies of local circuit neurons in the cerebellar dentate nucleus of man. Human Neurobiol 2:49–57
Braak H, Braak E (in press) Neuronal types in the basolateral amygdaloid nuclei of man. Brain Res Bull (in press)
Braitenberg V, Guglielmotti U, Sada E (1967) Correlation of crystal growth with the staining of axons by the Golgi procedure. Stain Technol 42:277–283
Buren JM van, Borke RC (1972) Variations and connections of the human thalamus. Vol 1: The nuclei and cerebral connections of the human thalamus. Springer, Berlin Heidelber New York
Dekaban A (1953) Human thalamus. An anatomical, developmental and pathological study. I. Division of the human adult thalamus into nuclei by use of the cyto-myelo-architectonic method. J Comp Neurol 99:639–684
Dekker JJ, Kuypers HGJM (1976) Morphology of rat's AV thalamic nucleus in light and electron microscopy. Brain Res 117:387–398
Dewulf A (1971) Anatomy of the normal human thalamus. Topometry and standardized nomenclature. Elsevier, Amsterdam London New York
Gerebtzoff MA, Ziegels J, Duchesne PY (1973) Le thalamus des mammiferes et de l'homme organisation structurale, fonctionelle et cytochimique. Bull Assoc Anat 57:727–828
Hajdu F, Somogyi G, Tömböl T (1974) Neuronal and synaptic arrangement in the lateralis posterior-pulvinar complex of the thalamus in the cat. Brain Res 73:89–104
Hassler R (1950) Die Anatomie des Thalamus. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 184:249–256
Hassler R (1955) Functional anatomy of the thalamus. VIth Congres Latino-america de Neurocirurgia. Montevideo, pp 754–787
Hassler R (1959) Anatomie des Thalamus. In G Schaltenbrand, P Bailey (eds) Einführung in die stereotaktischen Operationen mit einem Atlas des menschlichen Gehirns. Thieme, Stuttgart, pp 230–290
Hassler R (1964) Spezifische und unspezifische Systeme des menschlichen Zwischenhirns. In: W Bargmann, JP Schadé (eds) Lectures on the diencephalon. Progr Brain Res 5:1–32, Elsevier, Amsterdam London New York
Keefer nDA, Chung JW, Heimer L (1980) Morphology and ultrastructure of anterior thalamic neurons solidly labeled with horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res 191:301–311
Kölliker A (1896) Handbuch der Gewebelehre des Menschen. Vol 2 (Aufl 6). Engelmann, Leipzig
Lemieux LH (1954) The thalamic pathology of amaurotic family idiocy. A contribution to the cytology of the thalamus. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 13:343–352
Madarasz M, Tömböl T, Hajdu F, Somogyi G (1981) Some comparative quantitavive data on the different (relay and associative) thalamic nuclei in the cat. A quantitative EM study. Anat Embryol 162:363–378
Madarasz M, Tömböl T, Hajdu F, Somogyi G (1983) Quantitative histological study on the thalamic ventro-basal complex of the cat. Numerical aspects of the transfer from medial lemniscal fibers to cortical relay. Anat Embryol (Berl) 166:291–306
Mathers LH (1972) Ultrastructure of the pulvinar of the squirrel monkey. J Comp Neurol 146:15–42
McLardy T (1950) Thalamic projection to frontal cortex in man. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 13:198–202
McLardy T (1963) Thalamic microneurons. Nature (Lond) 199:820–821
Millhouse OE (1981) The Golgi methods. In: L Heimer, MJ Robards (eds) Neuroanatomical tract-tracing methods. Plenum Press, New York London, pp 311–344
Namba M (1958) Über die feineren Strukturen des mediodorsalen Supranucleus und der Lamella medialis des Thalamus beim Menschen. J Hirnforsch 4:1–42
Ogren MP, Hendrickson AE (1979) The structural organization of inferior and lateral subdivisions of the macaca monkey pulvinar. J Comp Neurol 188:147–178
Ralston HJ, Herman MM (1969) The fine structure of neurons and synapses in the ventrobasal thalamus of the cat. Brain Res 14:77–97
Ramon y Cajal S (1911) Histologie du système nerveux de l'homme et des vertébrés. Vol 2. Maloine, Paris (reptinted 1955, Consejo superior de investigaciones cientificas, Madrid)
Rinvik E, Grofova I (1974) Light and electron microscopical studies of the normal nuclei ventralis lateralis and ventralis anterior thalami in the cat. Anat Embryol 146:57–93
Scheibel ME, Scheibel AB (1966a) Patterns of organization in specific and nonspecific thalamic fields. In: DP Purpura, MD Yahr (eds) The thalamus. Columbia Univers Press, New York London, pp 13–46
Scheibel ME, Scheibel AB (1966b) The organization of the ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus. A Golgi study. Brain Res 1:250–268
Scheibel ME, Davies TL, Scheibel AB (1972) An unusual axonless cell in the thalamus of the adult cat. Exp Neurol 36:512–518
Somogyi G, Tömböl T, Hajdu F (1973) Golgi architecture and connections of the nucleus anterodorsalis thalami. Acta Anat (Basel) 85:466–476
Tömböl T (1966/67) Short neurons and their synaptic relations in the specific thalamic nuclei. Brain Res 3:307–326
Tömböl T (1969) Two types of short axon (Golgi 2nd) interneurons in the specific thalamic nuclei. Acta Morphol Acad Sci Hung 17:285–297
Vogt C, Vogt O (1941) Thalamus Studien I–III. J Psychol Neurol 50:33–154
Waddy FF, McLardy T (1956) Pathological changes in a human brain after anoxia under ether. Confin Neurol (Basel) 16:65–81
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Braak, H., Braak, E. Neuronal types in the neocortex-dependent lateral territory of the human thalamus. Anat Embryol 169, 61–72 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300587
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300587