T. Clark Brelje, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Robert L. Sorenson, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Cross section of the spinal cord stained with cresyl violet. Cresyl violet is a basic dye that binds nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), but preferentially stains RNA.
In cross-section, the spinal cord is divided into the butterfly-shaped grey matter and surrounding white matter. Nuclei of all cells and the Nissl (chromophil) substance in neurons is stained.
Gray Matter - butterfly-shaped region that contains nerve cell bodies and supporting glial cells. Synapses only occur in gray matter.
Dorsal Horns (left, right) - upper parts of the wings that receive sensory input from peripheral neurons.
Ventral Horns (left, right) - lower parts of the wings that contain the cell bodies of motor neurons that give rise to the motor portion of peripheral nerves.
White Matter - contains ascending and descending axons (bundled into tracts) and supporting glial cells.
Central Canal - small, round structure in the center of the spinal cord that contains cerebral spinal fluid. Lined with a simple cuboidal-to-columnar epithelium of ependymal cells.
Motor Neurons
Cross section of the spinal cord stained with cresyl violet. Cresyl violet is a basic dye that binds nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Motor Neuron - large cell bodies in the ventral horn that can be more than 100 µm in diameter (innervate striated muscle).
Nucleus - large with a prominent nucleolus
Nissl (Chromphil) Substance - basophilic material in nerve cell bodies and dendrites (left). The result of a large amount of RNA in rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and free polyribosomes.
Axon (right) - a single, large process that emerges from the nerve cell bodies at the axon hillock (right). Note that the axon hillock does not contain Nissl substance.
Dendrites (left) - multiple processes extending from the nerve cell bodies that contain Nissl substance
Glial Cells - the small nuclei found around the motor neurons are mostly glial cells.
