Characteristics of small neurons of the reticular thalamic nucleus in WAG/Rij rats

The aim of the present work was to study the ultrastructure of small neurons in the reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) in WAG/Rij rats, which are used as a model of absence epilepsy. A total of 24 rats were studied. The brains of 10 rats were used for studies of the cytoarchitectonics and cytological characteristics of neurons, for which paraffin sections were stained with cresyl violet by the Nissl method. Electron microscopic studies were performed by microscope-controlled harvesting of the RTN with fixation in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer pH 7.4. Small neurons were found to account for 5-8% of all neurons in the RTN. These had oval bodies, sparse and pale-staining cytoplasm, and were frequently located in pairs. The ultrastructure of these neurons was characterized by poor development of cell membranes, branching of the axon close to the cell body, and multiple axon contacts with the body and dendrites. It is suggested that these neurons are short-axon neurons.