Development of the axon cap neuropil of the Mauthner cell in the goldfish

Summary Development of the axon cap neuropil of the Mauthner neuron in post-hatching larval goldfish brains was observed electron-microscopically. The axonal initial segment of newly hatched (day-4) larvae is completely covered with synaptic terminals containing clear spherical synaptic vesicles. Profiles of thin terminal axons, the spiral fibers, containing similar synaptic vesicles, rapidly increase in number around the initial segment and form glomerular neuropil similar to the central core of the adult axon cap by day 7. Three types of synapses are formed in the core neuropil. Bouton-type synapses contacting the initial segment are most abundant in day-4 to-14 larvae; they decrease thereafter and are rare on the distal half of the initial segment of day-40 larvae. Asymmetric axo-axonic synapses are commonly observed between spiral fibers in the core neuropil of day-7 to -19 larvae, but become fewer by day 40. Unique symmetrical axo-axonic synapses showing accumulation of synaptic vesicles on either side of apposed membrane thickenings first appear in day-14 core neuropil, gradually increase in number, and become the predominant type in day-40 core neuropil. Thick myelinated axons, which lose their myelin sheaths in the glial cap cell layer, start to penetrate into the axon cap on day 10. They gradually increase in number and form the peripheral part of the axon cap together with the cap dendrites, which finally grow into the axon cap from the axon hillock region of the Mauthner cell by day 40.