3-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF NEURONAL AND GLIAL PROCESSES - HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

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.