Nissl body

Nissl bodies or Nissl substance in nerve cells are particularly densely packed cell organelles of the endoplasmic reticulum ( ER), named after its discoverer F. Nissl. They contain large numbers of membrane-bound ( rough ER) and free ribosomes as an expression of the high rate of protein synthesis in the body of nerve cells and are, therefore, with basic dyes (eg Nissl staining) displayed well.

Because of a nerve cell, the synthesis of proteins predominantly does not take place in their processes, it is compressed to the perikaryon and somanahe Dendritenbereiche. The axon and already be originating cones are free of Nissl bodies (or tigroid ). In their absence, therefore, histologically the office of departure of the axon leaves with appropriate staining already light microscopy readily recognize. Expression and distribution of the Nissl bodies can be at different types of nerve cells show characteristic patterns and change beyond activity-dependent, as well as illness.