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Stereological estimation of gap junction surface area per neuron in the developing nervous system of the invertebrate Mesocestoides corti

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

A. J. Burns ,
C. V. Howard ,
J. M. Allen ,
D. Van Velsen  and
G. McKerr
A. J. Burns
Affiliation:
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland, UK
C. V. Howard
Affiliation:
Department of Fetal and Infant Pathology, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Myrtle Street, Liverpool L7 7DG, UK
J. M. Allen
Affiliation:
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland, UK
D. Van Velsen
Affiliation:
Department of Fetal and Infant Pathology, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Myrtle Street, Liverpool L7 7DG, UK
G. McKerr
Affiliation:
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland, UK
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Summary

As a major morphological feature in establishing the form of the nervous system, it is recognized that neurons are initially overproduced, then naturally occurring cell death reduces the neuron number to the functional requirement. However, the mechanisms controlling the selective elimination of certain neurons during a general phase of cell death are not fully understood. One event that seems to be pivotal is the establishment of neural connections, the degree of which may be influential regarding the fate of specific neurons. However, little quantitative evidence is available to either support or refute this theory. In this current study, a Stereological measurement of gap junction per neuron was carried out within the invertebrate model system of the tapeworm metacestode Mesocestoides corti, which has previously been shown to overproduce neurons during the asexual reproduction stage of its life-cycle. Novel Stereological estimation methods with ‘ vertical sections’ indicated that prior to asexual division the cerebral ganglion possessed approximately 268 neurons, each with a gap junction surface area of 250 μm2. As division progressed, the neuron number increased to approximately 700, while the total surface area of gap junction remained statistically unchanged. As a result the surface area of gap junction per neuron decreased to 106 μm2, less than half that in the undividing stage. These results provide the first non-biased quantitative data regarding changes in the mean surface area of gap junction per neuron in a developing cerebral ganglion.

Keywords

stereologydevelopmentneuronal deathgap junctions
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 111 , Issue 4 , November 1995 , pp. 505 - 513
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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