Neurons and Glia Flashcards
What are dendrites?
β Long thin extensions making a dendritic tree
β they are the receptive surface of the nerve cell (synaptic inputs)
What is the dimensions of a slice for a light microscope?
β 50micron
What does a microtome slice use?
β slice embedded in wax
What is the disadvantage of a microtome slice?
β The wax interferes with staining chemicals
What is a cryostat?
β A frozen version of a microtome
How can you make the brain transparent?
β Treating the tissue with solvents renders it transparent because it removes the myelin
What does the Nissl stain stain?
β stains RNA
β but only in nerve cell bodies
What does the Golgi method use?
β Silver chromate creates a dense black stain
What is the disadvantage of the Golgi method?
β It only labels 1-2% of cells
What is a multipolar nerve cell?
β Many dendrites coming off from the cell body
What is a pyramidal nerve cell?
β dendrites form a triangular shape
What is a spiny nerve cell?
β Some dendrites have spines
What is a pseudounipolar dendrite?
β Sensory cell
What is a bipolar dendrite?
β two dendritic ends
Describe how you visualise the axon?
β Intracellular injection of biocytin with a very small pipette
β Set of antibodies against the tracer
β Antibodies against the tracer antibodies
What does horseradish peroxidase do?
β Linked to an enzyme that deposits a black insoluble substance around the antibodies
What is an advantage of the antibody method?
β Can see multiple features within the cell
β Can record the electrical activity using the same electrode pipette