K. Hama et al., 3-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF NEURONAL AND GLIAL PROCESSES - HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY, Microscopy research and technique, 29(5), 1994, pp. 357-367
Neurons and glia cells in the mammalian central nervous system have ma
ny complicated processes. They are too fine for light microscopic stud
y and too complicated and widely spread for thin section electron micr
oscopy. High-voltage electron microscopic (HVEM) stereo observation of
thick Golgi preparation provides detailed 3-D images of their process
es. Three-dimensional fine structures of astocytic processes in the ne
uropile and on the surface of neuronal somata, and those of the ruffed
cell axon initial segment and thorny excrescences of CA3 pyramidal ce
ll dendrites, are elucidated with the aid of HVEM stereoscopy of thick
Golgi preparations. In addition, some results obtained by 3-D morphom
etrical analysis of dendritic spines using HVEM stereo images are show
n. The examples presented here clearly show the usefulness of high-vol
tage electron microscope stereo observation of thick specimens for det
ailed morphological and morphometric study of the central nervous syst
em. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.