Star shaped neurons in the substantia gelatinosa of the adult cat spinal cord.
The neurons of the substantia gelatinosa (SG) were examined in Golgi preparations taken from the lumbosacral spinal cord of the adult cat. In addition to several types of characteristic SG neurons, a small number of star shaped neurons were observed in the inner zone of the SG. The star shaped neurons have a polygonal shaped cell body with numerous, short primary and secondary dendrites which extend radially from the soma in a star shaped fashion. Both the cell body and dendrites of the star shaped neuron have an irregular craggy contour. The star shaped cell has not been previously reported in adult animals. There is, however, a strong structural similarity between the star shaped neuron and immature, undifferentiated SG neurons described in newborn animals. The possible significance of the star shaped neuron is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D013376:Substantia Gelatinosa / Q000166:cytology*