Summary
The ultrastructural study of the Cebus lateral geniculate nucleus shows the existence of a complex synaptic organization in which several synaptic types are recognized: a) axosomatic; b) simple axodendritic; c) glomeruli.
Three main synaptic contacts were found in the glomeruli: 1. axodendritic 1, between central terminals and primary and secondary dendrites; 2. axodendritic 2, between peripheral terminals and dendrites and 3. axoaxonic, between central and peripheral terminals. At the axoaxonic junctions, the central are presynaptic to the peripheral terminals. Elliptical vesicles fill the peripheral terminals.
These findings are discussed in relation with a) previous results of other authors in primates and cats; b) previous neurophysiological and pharmacological evidences for the existence of chemical synapses in the lateral geniculate nucleus; c) the possible functions of axoaxonic synapses.
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This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina, and the National Council to Combat Blindness, Inc., N.Y. (Fight for Sight grant-in-aid No. G-340.)
We acknowledge Prof. Dr. E. De Robertis for his continuing advice and criticism and for the critical reading of the manuscript. We are grateful to E. di Matteo and to A. J. Sáens for the valuable technical and photographic assistance.
We acknowledge Prof. Dr. Oscar J. Lombardero, Universidad del Nordeste, Argentina, and Dr. Francisco J. J. Risso, from Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina, for supplying the monkeys used in this study.
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Pecci Saavedra, J., Vaccarezza, O.L. & Reader, T.A. Ultrastructure of cells and synapses in the parvocellular portion of the Cebus monkey lateral geniculate nucleus. Z. Zellforsch. 89, 462–477 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336173
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336173