star pyramid | SSp-layer IV-morphology, general (W.) | A second variety of spinous layer IV neuron is distinguished by the presence of a superficially directed dendritic process which is drawn out from the soma to give an impression of an “apical” dendrite (see Fig. 3B). This apical-like dendrite arises from the pial aspect of a round cell body and frequently branches proximally into two or more daughter segments. These terminate in upper layer lV or ascend only a short distance to branch and terminate in lower layer III. A similar partially reconstructed cell was described in the PMBSF of mice by White (’78), who referred to it as a “modified pyramidal cell". A small number of cells, which more closely resemble “star” pyramids described by Lorente de No (’22, send their apical processes to the molecular layer and have somewhat larger, but also round, somata. In this paper, all spinous neurons having spherical somata and a distinct apically directed dendrite will be called “star pyramids.” | synonim | Modified pyramidal neurons have been described in both the rat (star pyramid; Simons and Woolsey, 1984) and the mouse (modified pyramidal cell; White, 1978). | Elston G.N., Pow D.V. & Calford M.B. | Mihail Bota |
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