The Reticular

Formation
ANA 221 – Systemic Histology

Tolulope Oladele
Department of Anatomy,
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,
University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State.
 Lecture Roadmap

1 2 3 4 5
Introduction Reticular Nerve Nerve Clinical
Formation Degeneration Regeneration Significance

2 Histology class 2023

 Introduction
❑ The reticular formation is a complex network of interconnected nuclei and
fibers located in the brainstem.

❑ The reticular formation is specifically in the central core of the brainstem

extending from the medulla to the midbrain.

❑ Histologically, the reticular formation exhibits several distinct features.

3 Reticular Formation 2023

4 Reticular Formation 2023
5 Reticular Formation 2023
 Reticular Formation
❑ It consists of various types of neurons, including both small and large neurons,
arranged in clusters or nuclei, forming a diffuse network within the brainstem.

❑ The neurons also include excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Some examples of
cell types within the reticular formation include cholinergic, glutamatergic,
GABAergic, and serotonergic neurons.

❑ The reticular formation is characterized by a dense network of axonal fibers

that extend in different directions.

6 Reticular Formation 2023

 Reticular Formation
❑ These fiber systems include ascending, descending, and intrinsic fibers.
Ascending fibers project to higher brain regions while descending fibers project
to the spinal cord and other lower brain regions.

❑ The reticular formation comprises various nuclei and subnuclei with distinct
functions.

❑ These nuclei contribute to a wide range of physiological processes, including

sleep-wake cycles, arousal, attention, sensory and motor integration,
cardiovascular and respiratory control, and modulation of pain signals.

7 Reticular Formation 2023

 Reticular Formation
❑ The reticular formation is closely associated with other structures within the
brainstem, such as the cranial nerve nuclei, vestibular nuclei, and autonomic
centers.

❑ These structures are intermingled within the reticular formation, contributing

to its functional diversity.

❑ Histological examination of the reticular formation is typically performed using

staining techniques such as Nissl staining, which highlights cellular structures
and enables visualization of neuronal populations.

8 Reticular Formation 2023

Nerve
Regeneration &
Degeneration
ANA 221 – Systemic Histology
 Nerve Degeneration
❑ Nerve injury and damage can occur as a result of Trauma, Compression,
Inflammation, oxidative stress, autoimmune disorders, exposure to toxic
substances, infections, etc.

❑ In nerve degeneration, axonal swelling, and disruption are observed. This is

followed by loss or damage to the myelin sheath, leading to demyelination.

❑ Demyelination disrupts the proper conduction of nerve impulses.

Nerve Regeneration &

10 2023
Degeneration
 Nerve Degeneration
❑ In response to nerve degeneration, inflammatory cells, particularly
macrophages, are recruited to the site. They phagocytose and remove cellular
debris.

❑ In some cases of nerve degeneration, scar tissue may form at the site of injury
or degeneration. This scar tissue can hinder the regeneration of nerve fibers.

Nerve Regeneration &

11 2023
Degeneration
 Nerve Regeneration
❑ The histology of nerve regeneration and degeneration involves the microscopic
examination of nerve tissue to understand the cellular and structural changes
that occur during these processes.

❑ When a nerve is injured, Wallerian degeneration occurs.

❑ This degeneration involves the breakdown and removal of the axon and myelin
sheath distal to the injury site. The distal stump undergoes structural changes.

Nerve Regeneration &

12 2023
Degeneration
 Nerve Regeneration
❑ Wallerian degeneration refers to a series of cellular and molecular changes
that occur in the distal segment of a severed or damaged axon in the
peripheral nervous system (PNS).

❑ When an axon in the PNS is injured or cut, the axon is severed or damaged,
leading to a loss of continuity between the proximal (closest to the cell body)
and distal segments of the axon.

❑ A process called Chromatolysis occurs. It refers to changes that occur in the

cell body of the neuron following axonal injury. The Nissl bodies, which are
stacks of rough endoplasmic reticulum involved in protein synthesis, disperse
and become more diffuse within the cell body.
Nerve Regeneration &
13 2023
Degeneration
 Nerve Regeneration
❑ The distal segment of the axon undergoes fragmentation and breaks down into
small segments called axonal spheroids.

❑ This fragmentation occurs due to the loss of structural support from the cell
body and the disruption of axonal transport processes.

❑ This process is followed by Schwann cell activation.

Nerve Regeneration &

14 2023
Degeneration
 Nerve Regeneration
❑ Schwann cells, the supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system playing a
crucial role in nerve regeneration, begin to proliferate and align along the
endoneurial tubes, forming bands known as Büngner bands.

❑ The macrophages (immune cells) are recruited to the injury site and
phagocytose the debris resulting from the axonal breakdown.

❑ Following the clearance of debris, a process of axonal regeneration may occur.

Nerve Regeneration &

15 2023
Degeneration
 Nerve Regeneration
❑ Axons from the proximal stump begin to sprout and elongate into the distal
stump. These sprouts grow along the Büngner bands, guided by growth factors
and extracellular matrix molecules.

❑ As the regenerating axons continue to elongate, remyelination occurs.

Schwann cells wrap around the regenerating axons, forming new myelin
sheaths.

❑ The success and extent of regeneration depend on various factors, including

the type and extent of the injury, the age of the individual, and the specific
nerve involved.

Nerve Regeneration &

16 2023
Degeneration
Clinical Significance
Regeneration:
Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Spinal Cord Injury
Nerve Grafting

Degeneration:
Hereditary Neuropathies
Peripheral Neuropathy
Neurodegenerative Diseases

17
Questions?