Lugaro cells are primary sensory

interneurons Interneurons (also called internuncial neurons, association neurons, connector neurons, or intermediate neurons) are neurons that are not specifically motor neurons or sensory neurons. Interneurons are the central nodes of neural circuits, ena ...

of the

cerebellum The cerebellum (: cerebella or cerebellums; Latin for 'little brain') is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as it or eve ...

, that have an inhibitory function. They are fusiform, having a spindle shape that tapers at each end. They were first described by Ernesto Lugaro in the early 20th century. Lugaro cells are found just beneath the layer of

Purkinje cell Purkinje cells or Purkinje neurons, named for Czech physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně who identified them in 1837, are a unique type of prominent, large neuron located in the Cerebellum, cerebellar Cortex (anatomy), cortex of the brain. Wi ...

s between the molecular layer and the granular layer. They have thick principal dendrites coming from opposite poles of their bodies. These dendrites are very long and travel along the boundary between the Purkinje layer and the granular layer. They seem to contact from 5 to 15 Purkinje cells in a horizontal direction. They can also sense stimuli close to the Purkinje cells and their dendrites form a large receptive area that monitors the environment near to the Purkinje cells. Whilst their dendrites make contact with the Purkinje cells they also receive inputs from branches of the Purkinje axons by which they seem to have a sampling and integration role.Lainé J, Axelrad H. Lugaro cells target basket and stellate cells in the cerebellar cortex. NeuroReport. 1998 Jul 13;9(10):2399-403 The Lugaro cell has a major role in the cerebellum, interconnecting many neurons located in all layers of the cortex. It samples information from the Purkinje cell axon collaterals and forwards this information to the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellum. The axons of the Lugaro cells only contact inhibitory interneurons such as the

basket A basket is a container that is traditionally constructed from stiff Fiber, fibers, and can be made from a range of materials, including wood splints, Stolon, runners, and cane. While most baskets are made from plant materials, other materials ...

, stellate and Golgi cells. The parallel axon targets stellate and basket cells and the transverse axon targets Golgi cells. The Lugaro cell axon can sometimes take a curving detour through the granular layer, before running its parallel course in the molecular layer. The axon dips through the granular layer, into the white matter, before going up to terminate on basket or stellate cells in the molecular layer. Sometimes the Lugaro cell axon will also terminate on Golgi cells in the granular layer without going on up again to the molecular layer, so that the Golgi cells are the target. According to Dieudonne, the Lugaro cell forms a major input to Golgi cells, and one Lugaro cell may contact up to 100 Golgi cells.Dieudonne S, and Dumoulin A Serotonin driven long range interconnections in the cerebellar cortex. J Neurosci 20/1837-1848

References

{{Reflist Cerebellum

See also

References