Cells of the nervous system part 2

Sensory neurons

carry sensory information to the central nervous

system (CNS)

process info from sense organs to brain (light, sound, and touch) what brain is mostly made out of

Interneurons

connect sensory and motoneurons with other neurons

Motoneurons

carry information from the CNS to muscles

multipolar neuron

Most common (e.g., Interneurons) have many dendrite and single axon

Bipolar neuron

More common in sensory systems, single dendrite and single axon

Unipolar neuron

(Monopolar neuron), Transmit touch information to spinal cord, axon for entire length one end dendrite other axon terminal

Nissl stain

cell bodies (stains DNA + RNA)

Golgi stain

individual cell shape (silver staining)

Immunocytochemistry

identify proteins using antibodies

c-Fos protein

neuronal activity of cells

In-situ hybrization

identify sequence of nucleic acids (RNA)

Tract tracing

tracing interconnections between neurons

Brainbow

transgenic modifications to express different

fluorescent proteins in different neurons

Glial cells

Glia refers to "glue" in Greek, Glial cells provide support and nutrients to neurons.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped

▪ Most numerous of the glial cells

▪ Weave between neurons

▪ Provide physical support, transport

nutrients, increase blood flow, help

form synapses (neural plasticity)

Microglia

Smallest glial cells, support neurons by removing debris, e.g., site of injury

Oligodendrocytes

(in brain and spinal cord), Glial cells that wrap around multiple axons in the central nervous system to insulate them with myelin

Schwann cells

Glial cells that wrap around an axon in the peripheral nervous system to myelinate one axon.

Gray matter

is the location of cell bodies and dendrites

White matter

is the axonal fibers that project to various brain regions to transmit messages

Corpus Callosum

large axonal fibers that connect the two hemispheres

Multiple Sclerosis

The body's immune system

attacks the oligodendrocytes

that form myelin on axons of

some neurons in the central

nervous system

• As a result, electrical signals

(action potentials) are not

transmitted efficiently

You are trying to visualize the shape of neurons in a rat in order to count the dendritic spines.

Golgi Staining

key words: visualize neuron

You are trying to determine the difference in the number of cell bodies between your experimental groups.

Nissl Stain

key word: number of cells

You need to detect dopaminergic cells by identifying the dopamine transport proteins

Immunocytochemistry

key words: detect proteins

You need to determine what neurons are active while a rat is pressing a lever to receive drug

c-Fos

key words: neurons are active

You need to find the find the interconnections of neurons in different brain areas

Tract Tracing

key words: interconnections of neurons

You receive a sample of brain matter and need to find a specific gene expressed

In-situhybridization

key words: gene expressed

What is the main difference between neurons and glial cells?

Neurons use electrochemical signaling while glial cells do not.