Cajal body number and nucleolar size correlate with the cell body mass in human sensory ganglia neurons

Cajal bodies in neurons

“…4D). 26,31,32,55 Although Gems have been reported in fetal motor neurons, 56 our group has not found Gems in mature mammalian neurons. The function of Gems remains unknown.…”

“…4C-E, 6A, D), 26,31,32,43,44 indicating that they are canonical CBs potentially engaged in the assembly and maturation of spliceosomal snRNPs. Since the 1960s, electron microscopy studies have found that neuronal CBs have well-defined coiled electrondense strands embedded in an amorphous matrix (Figs.…”

“…4A). 31,32,57,58 The size of neuronal CBs ranges from approximately 0.5 to 1.5 mm in diameter. Whereas nucleoli exhibit size scaling in sensory ganglion neurons, a linear relationship between CB size and neuronal size has not been demonstrated in this neuronal population.…”

“…Whereas nucleoli exhibit size scaling in sensory ganglion neurons, a linear relationship between CB size and neuronal size has not been demonstrated in this neuronal population. 31,32 Several studies have shown that CB number correlates with neuronal size and global transcriptional activity. 31,57,59,60 For example, sensory ganglion neurons include 3 cell-size categories related to their different transcriptional and bioelectrical activities: small, medium and large neurons.…”

“…42,62 Intriguingly, a remarkably higher number of CBs occurs in human ganglion neurons, with a mean value of 2.8 and 13.4 in small and largesize neurons, respectively, as compared with rat neurons. 32 Although human ganglion neurons are moderately larger than their counterparts in rats, other unknown factors, including differences between species in genome organization, could be determinants of the great abundance of CBs in human neurons.…”