Lecture XI

Zoo302 - Histology
 Nervous System
• The most complex organ system
– CNS
• Brain and spinal cord
– PNS
• Cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves
• Ganglia
 Forms integrated networks to send signals all
throughout the body
Nervous System
 Nervous System
• Cellular components:
– Nerve cells/neurons
• With numerous processes
• Responds to stimuli
– Action potential/depolarization wave/nerve impulse
– Transmission from one neuron to another cell
– Glial cells
• Supporting cells
• Replaces degenerated neurons
Histogenesis of the
nervous system
Histogenesis of the
nervous system
Histogenesis of the
nervous system
Histogenesis of the
nervous system
 Neurons
• Functional unit of the entire nervous system
• Structure of a neuron:
– Cell body or perikaryon
• Center of a nerve cell
• Receptive to stimuli
– Dendrites
• Elongated processes
• Receives stimuli from the environment
– Axon
• Single process
• Conducts signal from a neuron to another cell
• May also receive signal from another neuron
Structure of a neuron
 Perikaryon
• Cell body of a neuron
• Euchromatic
• Contains the nucleus and the cytoplasm
– Exclusive of the neuronal processes
• Trophic center
– Conveys excitatory or inhibitory stimuli
 Nissl bodies
 Basophilic material of the perikaryon
 Comprised of well developed RER
 Dendrites
• Gr. Dendron: tree
• Principal signal reception and processing sites
on neurons
• Thinner on outer branches
– Base: similar with perikaryon but devoid of Golgi
– Dendritic spines: dendrite projections
• Argyrophilic
• Neuronal plasticity
– Adaptation, memory, learning
 Axons
• Single in most neurons, with consistent diameter
• Originates from the axon hillock
– Directly associated with the perikaryon
– Branches are known as collateral branches
• Structure:
– Axolemma: membrane of the axon
– Axoplasm: cytoplasm
• Initial segment
– Decides if an axon will or will not conduct impulse
 Classification of Neurons

• According to the number of processes from the cell body

• Types:
1. Multipolar
• One axon; two to numerous dendrites
• Most numerous type of neuron
 Classification of Neurons

• Types:
2. Bipolar
• One axon; one dendrite
• Retina, olfactory mucosa, cochlear and vestibular ganglia
• Manages sense of smell, sight, and balance
 Classification of Neurons

• Types:
3. Unipolar/pseudounipolar
• Single process
• Spinal ganglia (sensory ganglia found in spinal nerves) and cranial
ganglia
 Classification of Neurons

• According to their function

• Types:
– Motor (efferent) neurons
• Control effector organs (muscles and glands)
– Sensory (afferent) neurons
• Reception of sensory stimuli
 Interneurons
 Establish relationship among other neurons
 Axon Transport
• Bidirectional
– Anterogade transport
• Kinesin-driven transport
• Transports impulses/materials away from the
perikaryon
• Perikaryon -> axon -> synaptic terminal
– Retrogade transport
• Dynein-driven transport
• Reverse of the anterogade transport
 Membrane potential
• Ion transport within the membrane of a
neuron
• Ions involved in MP:
– Sodium
– Potassium
 Mechanism of MP:
 Resting membrane potential
 Depolarization
 Repolarization
Nervous System

Resting Membrane
Potential
Nervous System

Resting Membrane
Potential

Depolarization
Nervous System

Resting Membrane
Potential

Depolarization

Repolarization
Nervous System
Nervous System
Nervous System
Nervous System
Nervous System
Nervous System
Nervous System
 Anesthetics
• Local anesthetics
– Hydrophobic molecules
– Binds to sodium channels
• Inhibiting sodium transport leading to the inhibition
also of action potentials
 Synapse
• Transmission of nerve impulses (action
potential)
– Neuron -> another cell (neuron or somatic cells)
– Chemical (neurotransmitter)
– Electrical (cardiac and smooth muscle)
Synapse
 Neurotransmitters
• Chemical transmission of signals from neurons
to effector cells/another neuron
• Transmission through synapses:

Presynaptic terminal
(terminal boutons) Synaptic Postsynaptic membrane
(release of cleft (contains receptors)
neurotransmitters)
Synapse
 Non-neuronal Cells
• Glial cells
• 10x more abundant in the brain (mammals)
• Surrounds neurons (CNS)
– Glial cells are smaller than neuronal perikaryon
 Neuropil
 Dense network of fibers
 Fills interneuronal spaces
 Glial Cells and Neuropil

Oligodendrocytes

Astrocytes

(N) neurons; (G) glial cells; (NP) neuropil [H&E]

Glial Cells and Neuropil

[Gold & hematoxylin]

Non-neuronal Cells
 Oligodendrocytes
• Gr. Oligo – small, few; dendro - tree
• Production of myelin sheath
– Insulation for electrical signals transmitted by
neurons
– Wraps around axons
• Predominantly occupying the white matter
Oligodendrocytes
 Astrocytes
• Gr. Astro – star
• Unique to CNS
– Predominantly occupying the gray matter
• Possess large number of radiating processes
– Fibrous astrocytes
• Few number of processes
• Located in white matter
– Protoplasmic astrocytes
• Many short, unbranched processes
• Located in gray matter
Astrocytes
 Astrocytes
• Functions:
– Support neurons
– Supports CNS development during embryonic and
fetal development
– Controlling ionic environment of neurons
 Perivascular feet
• Found in some astrocyte processes
• Contribute to the blood-brain barrier (BBB)
– regulation of vasodilation and transfer of oxygen ions from blood
to neurons
 Glial limiting membrane
• Layers of other astrocyte processes
• Lines the external surfaces of CNS
 Astrocytes
• Functions: (continuation)
– Replaces damaged regions of CNS
• Forms scar tissues (interferes neuronal regeneration)
– Neuron survival
• Regulation of extracellular movements
• Locally absorbs excess neurotransmitters
• Secretion of regulating hormones
– Communication between astrocytes
 Glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)
• Markers for astrocytes
• Common sources of brain tumors
 Astrocytes

(b): All astrocytic processes contain intermediate filaments of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)
and antibodies against this protein provide a simple method to stain these cells, as seen here in
a fibrous astrocyte (A) and its processes. The small pieces of other GFAP—positive processes in
the neuropil around this cell give an idea of the density of this glial cell and its processes in the
CNS. Astrocytes are an important part of the blood—brain barrier regulating entry of molecules
and ions from blood into CNS tissue. Capillaries at the extreme upper right and lower left
corners of (b) are enclosed by GFAP—positive perivascular feet (PF) at the ends of numerous
astrocytic processes. X500. Anti—GFAP immunoperoxidase and hematoxylin counterstain.
 Ependymal Cells
• Similar to columnar/cuboidal cells
– Different by the absence of BL
– BL is replaced by branching processes into adjacent
neuropil
• Lining of brain ventricles and central canal of
spinal cord
• Lined with cilia
– Facilitates movement of cerebrospinal fluid
• Lined with microvilli
– absorption
Ependymal Cells
Ependymal Cells

CNS
Ependymal Cells

PNS
 Microglia
• Widely distributed in both gray and white
matter
• Hemopoiesis-derived cell
– Monocyte nuclear phagocyte system
– Relative to macrophages
• Functions:
– Detection of damaged cells and microorganisms
– Secretion of immunoregulatory cytokines
• Defense of CNS tissues
Microglia
Microglia
 Multiple Sclerosis
• Autoimmune disease
– Microglial mechanism
• Ingestion of myelin sheath
• Degrade myelin sheath by receptor mediated
phagocytosis and lysosomal activity
– Affected also by HIV-1
• Increased microglial proliferation
 Schwann Cells
• Neurolemmocytes
• Derived from the neural crest cells
• Restricted in PNS
– Innervation of effector cells
– Wraps around the axon
• Function:
– Synthesis of myelin sheath
Schwann Cells
 Satellite Cells of Ganglia

• Differentiated from neural crest cells

• Covering of perikaryon of PNS ganglia
• Poorly understood molecular basis of support
Satellite Cells of Ganglia