The structure of the nervous system
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Before Golgi the nervous system appeared to be a confused mass of fibres. No-one understood how individual nerve cells were composed or connected. Single nerve cells could not be examined individually, as their structure was too complex for normal tissue staining techniques. Golgi searched for years for a technique to resolve the structure of nerve tissue. He developed the black reaction, based around hardening dissected tissue with potassium bichromate and impregnating individual cells with silver nitrate. This staining method, known as the Golgi method, is still in use. It allows the cell body and the processes of individual nerve cells to be seen clearly against the surrounding tissue. Using this technique Golgi was able to publish the first illustrations of the fine anatomy of the nervous system.
The Golgi staining technique opened up a new field. It allowed the structure of the nervous system to be resolved, and questions about its nature to finally be answered. Cajal offered an enormous contribution to solving the puzzle of the structure and function of the nervous system. Through many years of work he showed the relationships and connections between different cell types throughout the nervous systems of many animals.
(yes)Tags
Research Fields: Anatomy & development, Cell biology, Brain & nervous system(yes - 3 items)Date: 1906 (required)
Scientist(s): Camillio Golgi, Santiago y Cajal (required)
Countries: Spain, Italy(yes - 2 items)
Animals Used: Mouse, Rabbit, Dog, Cat, Other or unspecified birds, Reptiles(required - 6 items)
Description: The structure of the nervous system (yes)
Medical Applications: Medicine, Basic research(yes - 2 items)
