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Aspiny neurons and their local axons in the neostriatum of the rat: a correlated light and electron microscopic study of Golgi-impregnated material

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Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

Three types of neuron with smooth (aspiny) dendrites could be distinguished in the Golgi-impregnated rat neostriatum. Examples of each type of aspiny neuron were found with local axon collaterals within the neostriatum and these were selected for gold-toning and examination in the electron microscope. One type of aspiny neuron had an elongated, usually spindle-shaped, medium-size soma with two, or rarely three, primary dendrites originating from opposite poles of the cell; one example of this type of neuron had two separate axons. The second type of aspiny neuron had a nearly round, medium-size soma with four primary dendrites that branched profusely quite close to the cell body. A third type of aspiny neuron had a very large polygonal-shaped cell body. Afferent axon terminals were found in synaptic contact with the dendrites and cell bodies of all three types of aspiny neuron.

Axon collaterals of each type of neuron displayed varicosities which, when examined in the electron microscope, were frequently found to be boutons making synaptic contact. All such synaptic contacts had symmetrical membrane specializations and the most common postsynaptic targets were dendritic shafts, sometimes spine-bearing. Dendritic spines themselves also received synapses from each type of neuron. No axosomatic synapses involving boutons of identified axons were found. One example of a synapse between an axon collateral of an aspiny neuron and one of the same neuron's dendrites (an ‘autapse’) was demonstrated by electron microscopy.

It is concluded that the synaptic terminals of at least four types of neuron, the three aspiny types described here and the medium-size densely spiny neuron, participate in local circuit interactions in the neostriatum.

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Author notes

  1. H. Takagi

    Present address: 2nd Department of Anatomy, Kinki University School of Medicine, Sayama-cho, Minami-Kawachi-gun, 589, Osaka, Japan

  2. P. Somogyi

    Present address: Department of Human Physiology, Flinders Medical School, 5042, Bedford Park, South Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Pharmacology, South Parks Road, OX1 3QT, Oxford, UK

    H. Takagi, P. Somogyi & A. D. Smith

  2. 1st Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University Medical School, Tuzulto utca 58, Budapest, Hungary

    H. Takagi & P. Somogyi

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Takagi, H., Somogyi, P. & Smith, A.D. Aspiny neurons and their local axons in the neostriatum of the rat: a correlated light and electron microscopic study of Golgi-impregnated material. J Neurocytol 13, 239–265 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01148118

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