REFLECTING ON 3-DIMENSIONS – 6
Cells lacking a nucleus and nuclei lacking nucleoli
The image is of a section of the cerebellum, an organ belonging to the central nervous system, located in the skull next to the brain.
In addition to several smaller neurons, three large neurons of a type called Purkinje cells can be observed. Try to discover the “shadow” of a fourth Purkinje cell that can barely be seen at the left of the three cells.
Cells “lacking” nuclei, or nuclei without nucleoli are often seen in sections of the cerebellum, as well as in sections of most other organs.
Place the cursor or click on the image to observe:
Purkinje cells 1 and 3 – with “erased” nuclei and no obvious nucleoli.
Purkinje cell 2 – with an evident nucleus and nucleolus
The image is of a section of the cerebellum, an organ belonging to the central nervous system, located in the skull next to the brain.
In addition to several smaller neurons, three large neurons of a type called Purkinje cells can be observed. Try to discover the “shadow” of a fourth Purkinje cell that can barely be seen at the left of the three cells.
Cells “lacking” nuclei, or nuclei without nucleoli are often seen in sections of the cerebellum, as well as in sections of most other organs.
Place the cursor or click on the image to observe:
Purkinje cells 1 and 3 – with “erased” nuclei and no obvious nucleoli.
Purkinje cell 2 – with an evident nucleus and nucleolus
Why do we observe similar cells, although with such varied appearances?
See the explanation for this on the next page.
Cerebellum. Hematoxylin and eosin. Medium magnification.