The size and curvature of synapses in the cerebellar cortex of the cat.

At the supra Purkinje layer and the subpial level in the molecular layer of lobules V and VI of the cerebellar cortex of the cat, synaptic profiles were measured in ultrathin serial sections treated with either osmium tetroxide (OsO4) or ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA). From trace and chord lengths of the intercepts of synaptic profiles the curvature and the mean caliper diameter of the synapse was calculated. In OsO4-material the curvature of synapses yielded an average angle of about 47 degrees and about 36 degrees in E-PTA material. Although these values are contrary to the assumption of a flat disc, which is commonly required in stereological procedures to estimate caliper diameter, the effect of the curvature on the estimation of the mean caliper diameter is limited. This is shown by serial reconstruction analysis of the largest diameter of synapses from maximal arc and chord length measurements at the subpial and supra Purkinje level. The results provide quantitative data concerning synaptic size, curvature and the frequency of intercepts per synapse at the subpial and supra Purkinje level in the cerebellar cortex in OsO4 and E-PTA material. In addition the advantages and disadvantages of E-PTA and osmiumtetroxide staining in quantitative analysis are discussed.