Related Experiment Videos
Myelinated Herring bodies in the median eminence of the cat
F E Pastor1, J L Blázquez, D Toranzo
1Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Insights
This study observed the median eminence in developing cats, finding Herring bodies at birth. Myelinated nerve fibers and neurosecretory granules appeared by 45 days, with myelin sheaths forming around Herring bodies by 90 days.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- The median eminence is a critical neuroendocrine interface.
- Post-natal development involves significant structural changes in the brain.
- Herring bodies are storage sites for neurosecretory products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electron-microscopic changes in the feline median eminence during post-natal development.
- To characterize the emergence and maturation of neural structures, including Herring bodies and myelinated fibers.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy was used to examine the median eminence of cats at various post-natal stages.
- Observations focused on the presence and characteristics of Herring bodies, nerve fibers, and neurosecretory granules.
Main Results:
- Herring bodies were present in the median eminence 12 hours after birth.
- Myelinated nerve fibers, some containing neurosecretory granules, were observed at 45 days post-birth.
- By 90 days, Herring bodies were increasingly surrounded by myelin sheaths and contained neurosecretory granules and mitochondria.
Conclusions:
- The feline median eminence undergoes significant structural development post-birth.
- Myelination of nerve fibers and Herring bodies occurs progressively during early post-natal life.
- These findings provide insights into the maturation of neurosecretory pathways in the developing brain.
Abstract:
An electron-microscopic study was carried out on the median eminence of cats during post-natal development. From the moment of birth (observations performed 12 hours later) Herring bodies were seen in the fibrillary layer of the median eminence. At 45 days after birth, myelinated nerve fibres could be observed, some of them containing neurosecretory granules. The number of myelinated fibres in the median eminence increased with age and at 90 days some Herring bodies appeared surrounded by myelin sheaths; these mainly contained neurosecretory granules and a few mitochondria.