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