Dendritic morphology and development in the ferret lateral superior olivary nucleus.

The dendritic morphology of cells in the lateral superior olivary nucleus was studied with the Golgi method in adult and postnatal ferrets. The lateral superior olivary nucleus in the adult ferret is a convoluted structure with an M-shape in frontal sections. The major cell type appears to have disk-shaped dendritic trees. Most dendritic trees appear to be approximately orthogonal to the curved medial-lateral axis of the nucleus. Depending on their position in the limb and on the plane of section with respect to the dendritic tree, the disk-shaped cells are either bipolar or radiate in orientation. One subclass of disk-shaped cells has secondary dendritic branches that end as tufts of tendril-like processes. In a second subclass of cells, the dendrites exhibit several orders of dichotomous branching and lack obvious tufts of terminal processes. Marginal cells are observed at the border of the nucleus and have dendrites restricted to the margins of the cell plate. The bipolar orientation of disk-shaped cells orthogonal to the axis of the limbs is already apparent by the time of birth. Transient spines and other appendages are abundant on somata and dendrites during the first postnatal week. By the end of the first postnatal month only distal appendages are found. Tufts of fine tendril-like processes appear at the ends of dendrites between postnatal days 28 and 56.