# Nissl body

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Rough endoplasmic reticulum structure found in mitochondria

[Photomicrograph](/source/Photomicrograph) of Nissl bodies (two are indicated by arrows) in the [cytoplasm](/source/Cytoplasm) of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the [spinal cord](/source/Spinal_cord); [cresyl violet](/source/Cresyl_violet) stain (purple) along with a [luxol fast blue](/source/Luxol_fast_blue) stain for [myelin](/source/Myelin). Scale bar = 30 [microns](/source/Micron) (0.03mm).

Drawing of a motor neuron from the ventral horn of the medulla spinals of a rabbit. The angular and spindle-shaped Nissl bodies in the cytoplasm are well shown.

In [cellular neuroscience](/source/Cellular_neuroscience), **Nissl bodies** (also called **Nissl granules**, **Nissl substance** or **tigroid substance**) are discrete granular structures in [neurons](/source/Neuron) that consist of rough [endoplasmic reticulum](/source/Endoplasmic_reticulum), a collection of parallel, membrane-bound [cisternae](/source/Cisternae) studded with [ribosomes](/source/Ribosomes) on the [cytosolic](/source/Cytosol) surface of the membranes.[1] Nissl bodies were named after [Franz Nissl](/source/Franz_Nissl), a German [neuropathologist](/source/Neuropathologist) who invented the [staining](/source/Staining) method bearing his name ([Nissl staining](/source/Nissl_stain)).[2][3] The term "Nissl bodies" generally refers to discrete clumps of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes in nerve cells. Masses of rough endoplasmic reticulum also occur in some non-neuronal cells, where they are referred to as [basophilic](/source/Basophilic) bodies,[1] or chromophilic substance.[4] While these organelles differ in some ways from Nissl bodies in neurons,[5] large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum are generally linked to the copious production of proteins.[1]

## Staining

"Nissl stains" refers to various basic dyes that selectively label negatively charged molecules such as [DNA](/source/DNA) and [RNA](/source/RNA). Because ribosomes are rich in [ribosomal RNA](/source/Ribosomal_RNA), they are strongly [basophilic](/source/Basophilic) ("base-loving"). The dense accumulation of membrane-bound and free ribosomes in Nissl bodies results in their intense coloration by Nissl stains, allowing them to be seen with a light [microscope](/source/Microscope).[1]

## Size and distribution

Nissl bodies occur in the [somata](/source/Soma_(biology)) and [dendrites](/source/Dendrites) of neurons, though not in the [axon](/source/Axon) or [axon hillock](/source/Axon_hillock).[6] They vary in size, shape, and intracellular location; they are most conspicuous in the [motor neurons](/source/Motor_neurons) of the [spinal cord](/source/Spinal_cord) and [brainstem](/source/Brainstem), where they appear as large, blocky assemblies.[5] In other neurons, they may be smaller, and in some (such as the granule neurons of the [cerebellar](/source/Cerebellum) cortex) very little rough endoplasmic reticulum is present.[5] The pattern of coloration with Nissl stains once was used to classify neurons.[5] For various reasons, this practice has largely ceased, but specific neuronal types do manifest characteristic types of Nissl bodies.[5]

## Functional role

The functions of Nissl bodies are thought to be the same as those of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in general, primarily the synthesis and segregation of proteins.[1][2] Similar to the ergastoplasm of [glandular](/source/Gland) cells, Nissl bodies are the main site of protein synthesis in the neuronal [cytoplasm](/source/Cytoplasm).[5] The [ultrastructure](/source/Ultrastructure) of Nissl bodies suggests they are primarily concerned with the synthesis of proteins for intracellular use.[7]

## Pathology

Nissl bodies show changes under various physiological conditions and in [pathological](/source/Pathological) conditions such as [axonotmesis](/source/Axonotmesis), during which they may dissolve and largely disappear ([chromatolysis](/source/Chromatolysis)). If the neuron is successful in repairing the damage, the Nissl bodies gradually reappear and return to their characteristic distribution within the cell.[5]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Junqueira_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Junqueira_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Junqueira_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Junqueira_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Junqueira_1-4) Junqueira LC, Carniero J, Kelley RO (1995). *Basic Histology*. Appleton & Lange. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8385-0567-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8385-0567-8).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Thompson2000_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Thompson2000_2-1) Richard H. Thompson (29 March 2000). [*The Brain: A Neuroscience Primer*](https://books.google.com/books?id=PPAaU1cQUPsC&pg=PA35). Macmillan. pp. 35–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7167-3226-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7167-3226-6). Retrieved 4 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Da_Mota_Gomes_3-0)** Da Mota Gomes M (2019). ["Franz Nissl (1860-1919), noted neuropsychiatrist and neuropathologist, staining the neuron, but not limiting it"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6753910). *Dementia & Neuropsychologia*. **13** (3): 352–355. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1590/1980-57642018dn13-030014](https://doi.org/10.1590%2F1980-57642018dn13-030014). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6753910](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6753910).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fawcett_4-0)** Fawcett, Don W. (1966). *The Cell: Its Organelles and Inclusions*. W.B. Saunders Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7216-3585-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7216-3585-7).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-PetersPalayWebster_5-6) Peters A, Palay SL, Webster Hd (1991). *The Fine Structure of the Nervous System*. Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-506571-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-506571-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kühnel2003_6-0)** Wolfgang Kühnel (2003). [*Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wUFAGmVN_aMC&pg=PA182). Thieme. pp. 182–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-13-562404-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-13-562404-4). Retrieved 4 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HerdegenDelgado-Garcia2005_7-0)** T. Herdegen; J. Delgado-Garcia (25 May 2005). [*Brain Damage and Repair: From Molecular Research to Clinical Therapy*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Yz89owzM91kC&pg=PA37). Springer. pp. 37–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4020-1892-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4020-1892-3). Retrieved 4 January 2013.

## External links

- Media related to [Nissl stain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nissl_stain) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Nissl+Bodies](https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?name=Nissl+Bodies) at the U.S. National Library of Medicine [Medical Subject Headings](/source/Medical_Subject_Headings) (MeSH)

- [Histology image: 04103loa](https://www.bu.edu/phpbin/medlib/histology/p/04103loa.htm) – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Nervous Tissue and Neuromuscular Junction: spinal cord, cell bodies of anterior horn cells"

- [Histology at anhb.uwa.edu.au](http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/CorePages/Nervous/Nervous.htm)

- [Tissues containing Nissl bodies at harvard.edu](http://www.hms.harvard.edu/societies/castle/Room166/bodyblock/histology/)

v t e Nervous tissue CNS Tissue Types Grey matter White matter Projection fibers Association fiber Commissural fiber Lemniscus Nerve tract Decussation Neuropil Meninges Cell Types Neuronal Pyramidal Purkinje Granule Von Economo Medium spiny Interneuron Glial Astrocyte Ependymal cells Tanycyte Oligodendrocyte progenitor cell Oligodendrocyte Microglia PNS General Dorsal Root Ganglion Ramus Ventral Root Ramus Ramus communicans Gray White Autonomic ganglion (Preganglionic nerve fibers Postganglionic nerve fibers) Nerve fascicle Funiculus Connective tissues Epineurium Perineurium Endoneurium Neuroglia Myelination: Schwann cell Neurilemma Myelin incisure Node of Ranvier Internodal segment Satellite glial cell Neurons/ nerve fibers Parts Soma Axon hillock Axon Telodendron Axon terminals Axoplasm Axolemma Neurofibril/neurofilament Dendrite Nissl body Dendritic spine Apical dendrite/Basal dendrite Types Bipolar Unipolar Pseudounipolar Multipolar Interneuron Renshaw Afferent nerve fiber/ Sensory neuron GSA GVA SSA SVA fibers Ia or Aα Ib or Golgi or Aα II or Aβ and Aγ III or Aδ or fast pain IV or C or slow pain Efferent nerve fiber/ Motor neuron GSE GVE SVE Upper motor neuron Lower motor neuron α motorneuron β motorneuron γ motorneuron Termination Synapse Electrical synapse/Gap junction Chemical synapse Synaptic vesicle Active zone Postsynaptic density Autapse Ribbon synapse Neuromuscular junction Sensory receptors Meissner's corpuscle Merkel nerve ending Pacinian corpuscle Ruffini ending Muscle spindle Free nerve ending Nociceptor Olfactory receptor neuron Photoreceptor cell Hair cell Taste receptor

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nissl body](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissl_body) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissl_body?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.