Scanning Electron Microscopy of Cerebellar Cortex

In a clear exposition this book shows the in situ three-dimensional morphology of cerebellar neurons, intracortical circuits and synaptic connections that underpin the functioning of cerebellar neurons in networks. It brings together in one volume a new view of the three-dimensional cytoarchitectonic arrangement of the cerebellar cortex. The book shows the cerebellar extrinsic and intrinsic intracortical circuits formed by mossy and climbing fibres as exposed by the cryofracture methods. The high degree of lateral collateralization of these fibres is also displayed providing new insights on the information processing in the cerebellar cortex. Besides, field emission high resolution electron microscopy shows its potential contribution to the study of synaptic morphology. The concluding chapter deals with the contribution of scanning electron microscopy to cerebellar neurobiology. This monograph is an authoritative survey and a must for anyone who is interested in the structure of the central nervous system. It will also appeal to an interdisciplinary audience who wants to learn more about electron microscopy and neurocytology.

Table of Contents:
1. Sample Preparation Methods for Scanning Electron Microscopy.- Conventional SEM technique or slicing technique.- Fixation procedures.- The prefixation state of the nerve tissue.- Vascular perfusion fixation technique.- Criteria for good fixation and optimal preservation of nerve tissue.- Trimming procedure and obtaining nerve tissue slices.- Dehydration.- Critical point drying method.- Specimen mounting and orientation.- Metal deposition.- Nerve cell specimens coated with thick gold-palladium films.- Special SEM preparation techniques.- Concluding remarks.- 2. The Cerebellar White Matter.- Brief history.- The afferent and efferent fibers.- Concluding remarks.- 3. Granule Cells.- Short history.- The three-layered structure of cerebellar cortex.- Outer surface of intact granule cells.- Inner organization of fractured granule cells.- Granule cell processes.- Concluding remarks.- 4. The Mossy Fiber Glomerulus.- The long history.- The mossy fiber-granule cell synaptic relationship.- Concluding remarks.- 5. Golgi Cells.- Short history.- Scanning electron microscopy of unfractured Golgi cells.- Scanning electron microscopy of fractured Golgi cells.- Concluding remarks.- 6. Unipolar Brush Cells.- Recent history and three-dimensional morphology.- Future research.- 7. Lugaro Cells.- Short history.- Three-dimensional morphology.- Future research.- 8. Purkinje Cells.- The long history.- Three-dimensional morphology and outer surface.- Synaptic relationship with parallel fibers.- Concluding remarks.- 9. Climbing Fibers.- Brief history.- Intracortical course.- Concluding remarks.- 10. The Basket Cells.- Brief history.- Three-dimensional morphology.- Concluding remarks.- 11. Stellate Cells.- Brief history.- Three-dimensional morphology.- Concluding remarks.- 12. Cerebellar Glial Cells.- Brief history.- Oligodendrocytes.- The velate protoplasmic astrocytes.- Bergmann glial cells.- Concluding remarks.- 13. Cerebellar Capillaries.- Short history.- Three-dimensional morphology of cerebellar capillaries.- Contribution of SEM to the cerebellar blood-brain barrier structure and function.- Concluding remarks.- 14. Contribution of Scanning Electron Microscopy to Cerebellar Neurobiology.- The characterization of afferent and efferent fibers in the cerebellar white matter.- Three-dimensional visualization of unfractured and fractured neurons.- SEM as a high resolution tool for tracing cerebellar intracortical circuits.- The three-dimensional morphology of synaptic connections.- The three-dimensional morphology of glial cells.- Contribution to the information processing in the cerebellar cortex.- The three-dimensional design of cerebellar cortex.- References.