PSYC 280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Granule Cell, Posterior Cerebral Artery, Fourth Ventricle
4 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Neuroanatomical methods provide ways to make sense of the brain. In the mid 1800s, dyes that were used to color fabrics were used for microscopic studies of tissue. Hidden parts of nerve cells became vivid when treated with dyes. Different dyes have affinities for different parts of the cell. Two cell stains have allowed detailed study of the size, shape and number of neurons: golgi stains: a histological stain that fills a small proportion of neurons with a dark, silver based precipitate. Golgi stains fill the whole cell, including the dendritic spines. This technique stains only a small number of cells. Golgi staining are useful for identifying the type and shape of cells in a region: nissl stains: a histological stain that outlines all cell bodies because the dyes are attracted to rna which encircles the nucleus. Allow us to measure cell body size and the density of cells.
