File:Brain histology 01.jpg

• Tissue - Forebrain, Cortex, mouse
• Stain - Giemsa

Most glial cells are much smaller than neurons. Their nuclei are generally much smaller than neuronal nuclei, and they rarely contain an easily visible nucleolus. Other aspects of their morphology are variable. The glial cytoplasm is, if visible at all, very weakly stained. Different types of glial cells cannot be easily distinguished by their appearance in this type of preparation. Most of the small nuclei located in the white matter of the CNS, where they may form short rows, are likely to represent oligodendrocytes. (text Blue Histology)

Brain Histology: Cortex overview | Hippocampus detail |

Layers

1. molecular layer I - few neurons and mainly of extensions of apical dendrites and horizontally-oriented axons.
2. external granular layer II - small pyramidal neurons and many stellate neurons.
3. external pyramidal layer III - mainly small and medium-size pyramidal neurons, some non-pyramidal neurons with vertically-oriented intracortical axons.
4. internal granular layer IV - different types of stellate and pyramidal neurons.
5. internal pyramidal layer V - large pyramidal neurons.
6. multiform layer VI - few large pyramidal neurons and many small spindle-like pyramidal and multiform neurons.