Three-Dimensional Ultrastructure of the Geniculate Ganglion of the Guinea Pig -Observation by Scanning Electron Microscope-

Abstract

The contours and the internal ultrastractures of the geniculate ganglion cells of the facial nerve of guinea pigs were three-dimensionally observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Geniculate ganglion cells are pseudounipolars. Their axions c o nvolved the cell body and flowed away from the cell body. Some of them branched of or U-turned immediately after convolving. Geniculate ganglion cells could be divided by SEM into light cells and dark cells. Light cells had well-developed intracellular organella, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus and dense body, and occupied most of the geniculate ganglion cells.
Dark cells were smaller than light cells. Lik e light cells, dark cells had well-developed intracellular organella, but most of them were occupied by stratified rough endoplasmic reticulum Mitochondria of dark cells were smaller than those of light cells and many of them were globular.