Summary
In tangential serial paraffin sections through the somatosensory cortex of the rabbit, apical dendrites were traced from the border of layer III/IV to their origin in layer V. From tracings obtained in area parietalis 1 a complete three dimensional reconstruction of several vertical bundles of dendrites was made in a square area measuring about 190×210 μm. It was found that (1) The majority of apical dendrites takes part in the formation of vertical bundles. (2) The composition of the bundles changes as they ascend from layer V through layer IV. (3) The apical dendrites of a bundle converge so as to form a “neck” below a point near the border of layer IV/III where the majority of the dendrites bifurcate into obliquely running branches. (4) In layer IV the bundles are interconnected by dendritic branches of large pyramidal cells the apical shafts of which bifurcate in layer V or deep in layer IV. (5) In addition, an extensive and complicated exchange of fibres running in different bundles through layer IV takes place in layer III.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bonin, G. v., Mehler, W. R.: On columnar arrangement of nerve cells in cerebral cortex. Brain Res. 27, 1–9 (1971).
Cammermeyer, J.: An evaluation of the significance of the “dark” neuron. Ergebn. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 36, 1–61 (1962).
Fleischhauer, K., Petsche, H., Wittkowski, W.: Vertical bundles of dendrites in the neocortex. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 136, 213–223 (1972).
Matter, A., Forster, F.: Die Anwendung eines Gerätes für Parallelperspektive zur Rekonstruktion von Schnittserien. Mikroskopie 26, 1–9 (1970).
Peters, A., Walsh, T. M.: A study of the organization of apical dendrites in the somatic sensory cortex of the rat. J. comp. Neurol. 144, 253–268 (1972).
Petsche, H., Rappelsberger, P., Frey, Zs.: Intrakortikale Mechanismen bei der Entstehung der Penicillinspitzen. EEG-EMG 2, 176–180 (1971).
Petsche, H., Rappelsberger, P., Frey, Zs.: Intracortical aspects of the synchronisation of selfsustained bioelectrical activities. In: Synchronisation of EEG-activity in epilepsies, ed. by H. Petsche and M. A. B. Brazier. Wien-New York: Springer 1972.
Rose, M.: Cytoarchitektonischer Atlas der Großhirnrinde des Kaninchens. J. Psychol. Neurol. (Lpz.) 43, 353–440 (1931).
Sloper, J. J.: Gap junctions between dendrites in the primate neocortex. Brain Res. 44, 641 to 646 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Fl 26/13).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Massing, W., Fleischhauer, K. Further observations on vertical bundles of dendrites in the cerebral cortex of the rabbit. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 141, 115–123 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00519880
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00519880