Braak H, Braak E
Cell Tissue Res. 1976 Sep 6;172(1):103-19. doi: 10.1007/BF00226052.
It can be demonstrated with the aid of Golgi-, Nissl-, and pigment preparations that the Betz cells represent a homogeneous class of giant cells within the human brain, which can readily be distinguished from other large pyramids by their densely aggregated lipofuscin deposits. In addition to the primary motor field (4, Brodmann), there exists only a small area on the medial surface of the hemisphere in front of the central sulcus which also contains large Betz pyramids in layer Vb. This recently discovered sulcus (Braak, 1976b). Compared with the Betz cells of the primary motor field (4, Brodmann), those of the cingulate area display numerous primitive traits. A small number of short basal dendrites springs off from the cell body. The apical dendrite forks in a short distance from the perikaryon repeatedly but issues only few side branches. A spine-free proximal dendritic segment is poorly developed or lacking. Moreover, numerous spines are encountered along the surface of the soma. In view of their primitive features the large pyramids of the cingulate gigantopyramidal area are interpreted as the forerunners of the precentral Betz pyramids.
借助高尔基染色法、尼氏染色法和色素制剂可以证明，贝茨细胞是人类大脑中一类同质的巨型细胞，通过其密集聚集的脂褐素沉积物，很容易与其他大型锥体神经元区分开来。除了主要运动区（4区，布罗德曼分区）外，在中央沟前方的半球内侧面上，仅存在一小片区域，其Vb层中也含有大型贝茨锥体神经元。这是最近发现的脑沟（布拉克，1976b）。与主要运动区（4区，布罗德曼分区）的贝茨细胞相比，扣带区的贝茨细胞表现出许多原始特征。少量短的基底树突从细胞体发出。顶树突在距核周体很短的距离内反复分支，但仅发出很少的侧支。无棘的近端树突段发育不良或缺失。此外，在胞体表面可见大量棘突。鉴于其原始特征，扣带巨锥体区的大型锥体神经元被解释为中央前回贝茨锥体神经元的前身。
