The comparative morphological aspect of the formation of the macroglial environment of the spinal cord motor neurons
Savro, V.A.
Morfologiia 110(6): 55-59
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1026-3543 PMID: 9162413 Document Number: 465475
Ventral horns of the spinal cord obtained from 169 vertebrates (bony fish amphibians reptiles, birds and mammals, primates and Homo sapiens included) were studied Interrelations between motoneurons and macroglial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) were examined on light optical and electron microscopic levels. It was found that the higher the evolutionary grade was, the bigger grew the number of glial satellite from the motoneuron environment and the more distinctive their differentiation became. Progressive evolutionary reorganizations in the organism (increase of influence of brain on spinal cord, possibilities of motor system, change of gas dynamics between blood and tissue etc) resulted in morphofunctional specialization of macroglia, participating in neuron maintenance in mammals and especially in primates and man.