Histochemical studies on the spinal cord of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).

Abstract

Detailed histochemical observations have been made on the various components of the spinal cord. The gray matter showed much greater enzymatic activity than the white matter. The neuropil and substantia gelatinosa showed mild G6PD, AChE and BChE activity; moderate SDH, LDH, SE and AC activity; and strong AP, ATPase, and AMPase activity. The pia-arachnoid showed moderate to strong activity of dehydrogenases and phosphatases. The cytoplasm of the neurons and neuronal processes gave moderate to very strong reaction for most of the enzymes except BChE. The areas of synaptic endings show the presence of oxidative enzymes, phosphorylases, ATPase and AMPase. It has been interesting to note that phosphorylases, which have been mostly observed in the cytoplasm, nucleoli and synaptic areas of various neurons and in the neuropil, also show intensely strong reactions in the nuclei of ependymal cells lining the central canal as well as in nuclei of some glial cells.