Abstract
An electron microscopic analysis of the synapses in Clarke's column of the cat, using fresh short term degeneration, long term degeneration for detection of the persisting elements, and a newly devised “two-step degeneration technique” using fresh short term degeneration for further analysis of the persisting synaptic elements in chronic degeneration cases. — Three kinds of synaptic terminals can be identified in the lower part (L3 segmental level) of Clarke's column: (1) very large (so-called “giant”) axon terminals with spheric vesicles of primary muscle afferents establishing multiple (climbing-type) contacts mainly with the large dorsal spinocerebellar tract neurons; (2) small bouton-type terminals having spheric synaptic vesicles and originating mainly from spinal interneurons, localized below L4 in the lumbar enlargement and contacting small distal dendrites and cell bodies of small cells; (3) two types of nerve terminals, originating from local neurons, and characterized by flattened vesicles. One type of (3) contacts mainly the large Clarke neurons directly, whereas the other establishes axo-axonic synapses with the giant terminals (1) of primary muscle affer ents. The possible functional significance of these findings is discussed.
Published Version
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