Variability and Invariability in the Structure of an Identified Nonspiking Interneuron of Crayfish as Revealed by Three-Dimensional Morphometry

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We have quantitatively analyzed the three-dimensional dendritic structure of an identified nonspiking interneuron, Local Directionally Selective (LDS) interneuron in the terminal abdominal ganglion of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii Girard, using a confocal laser scanning microscopic system. Comparison of the cell size before and after fixation followed by dehydration and clearing revealed that the diameter of dendritic branches shrank by about 15% while the branch length showed no significant change. The soma and dendritic diameter in vivo were obtained from the measurement in the cleared preparation multiplied by the shrinkage factor. The total length of dendrites and their membrane area as well as their electrotonic structure were found to vary from preparation to preparation. The spatial distribution of fine dendritic branches was variable, but that of major branches was constant among preparations. The interneuron further shared bilaterally asymmetrical dendritic structure: those branches on the soma side commonly showed larger membrane area and larger number of branching than those on the opposite side. The results indicate that the functional difference in the synaptic activity so far reported between dendrites on the soma side and those on the opposite side is paralleled by their differences in the dendritic morphology and electrotonic structure.
社団法人日本動物学会の論文
1996-02-15