Different techniques for showing nerve cells

There are many ways of looking at cells and capturing what they look like. We've chosen six images of nerve cells to show how some of the cells found in your eyes and brain can be visualised with different techniques.

Image research by Laura Pastorelli; captions by Chrissie Giles, adapted from Wellcome Images.

Retinal ganglion cell

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Scanning electron micrograph of an isolated retinal ganglion cell. This is a type of neuron, typically located near the inner surface of the eye’s retina, that receives visual information from photoreceptors via two intermediate neuron types. Retinal ganglion cells collectively transmit visual information from the retina to several regions in the thalamus, hypothalamus and midbrain. They vary significantly in terms of their size, connections, and responses to visual stimulation but they all share the defining property of having a long axon that extends into the brain. These axons form the optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract.
Credit: Annie Cavanagh, Wellcome Images.

Pyramidal neurons

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Confocal microscopy image showing layer 5 pyramidal neurons from a cortical brain slice. Neurons were visualised using a fluorescent calcium indicator. Pyramidal cells are so-called as they have a pyramid-shaped cell body (or soma); they have long, branching dendrites. They are found in the forebrain (cortex and hippocampus) of mammals and are thought to be involved in cognitive function.
Credit: Prof. M Hausser/UCL, Wellcome Images.

Neurons in the hippocampus

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Fluorescence microscopy image of hippocampal neurons labelled with an antibody against the GluR1 subtype of glutamate receptors.
Credit: AJ Irving, Wellcome Images.

Neurons in the cerebellum

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Phase contrast light microscopy image of neurons in the human cerebellum. The cerebellum is the posterior part of the brain that coordinates sensory inputs and muscular responses. The large cell bodies belong to Purkinje cells. This was a thick section, silver-stained and counterstained.
Credit: Spike Walker, Wellcome Images.

Neurons in the brain

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Colour-enhanced light microscopy image of pyramidal neurons forming a network in the brain. These are nerve cells from the cerebral cortex that have one large apical dendrite and several basal dendrites.
Credit: Dr Jonathan Clarke, Wellcome Images.

Neuronal network in the cerebellum

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Fluorescence microscopy image showing the cerebellar network of Purkinje neurons from a mouse. The neurons are visualised by labelling the cells with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Purkinje cells are specialised neurons found in layers within the cerebellum (at the back of the brain). In humans they are one of the longest types of neurons in the brain and are involved in transmitting motor output from the cerebellum.
Credit: Prof. M Hausser/UCL, Wellcome Images.