Page 350 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

The anterior horn of the spinal cord was prepared by silver impregnation (the

Cajal method) to demonstrate neurofibrils in both the gray matter and motor
neurons. Fine neurofibrils (2, 4) are distributed throughout the cytoplasm
(perikaryon) (4) and dendrites (2, 9) of the motor neurons (1, 10, 11).

The nuclei of the motor neurons (1, 11) appear yellow stained and their
nucleoli (5, 10) dark stained. Not all motor neurons were sectioned through the

middle. As a result, some motor neurons show only a nucleus (1) without a
nucleolus, whereas others show only the peripheral cytoplasm (8) without a
nucleus.

There are also many neurofibrils in the gray matter (3), some of which

belong to the axons of anterior horn neurons (1, 11) or the adjacent neuroglia
(7), whose nuclei (7) are visible throughout the gray matter (3) (see also Fig.
9.10).

The clear spaces around the neurons and their processes are artifacts caused
by the chemical preparations of the nervous tissue.

FIGURE 9.9 ■ Neurofibrils and motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior

horn of the spinal cord. Stain: silver impregnation (Cajal method). High
magnification.

FIGURE 9.10 | Anterior Gray Horn of Spinal

Cord: Multipolar Motor Neurons, Axons, and

Neuroglial Cells

This medium-magnification photomicrograph of the anterior gray horn of the

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