Table 3 Diagnostic criteria of ‘neuron’
Method | Recognition Criteria |
|---|---|
phase contrast, Nomarski microscopy | neuron is identifiable by its composition consisting of a soma and one or more peripheral neurites |
use of fluorochrome-labeled antibodies in fluorescence microscopy | neuron is either identifiable by its composition or by its components (i.e., specific neurotransmitters) |
transmission electron microscopy | neurites will be small in diameter and contain small mitochondria, vesicles, microtubules and/or neurofilaments, while the soma of a neuron can only be identified by differential diagnostics |