Fananas cell

They are located in the molecular layer with their cytoplasmatic protrusions extending into the lower part of the molecular layer as well. They are meant to be closely related to and sometimes even called Golgi epithelial cells and are juxtaposed to the Radial glial cells or Bergmann glial cells. Fañanas cells are sometimes defined as "specialised astrocytes".

The feathered cells are named after Jorge Ramón y Cajal Fañanás, a son of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, who first described this type of glial cell in 1916.

Histology

Microscopic studies show that the Fañanas cell represents a satellite glial cell whose protrusions do not contain glial filaments like GFAP. They are located near the somata of Purkinje cells in the granular layer. With regard to the typical "feathered" microscopic structure of the cells, Fañanas glial cells occur in subforms with one, two or multiple "feathers" of cytoplasmatic extensions, that are studded with small, rounded sprouts. The protrusions are often much shorter than those of other Golgi epithelial cells and run parallel to the fibres of the Bergmann glial cells. Fañanas cell extensions are normally not part of the glial limiting membrane.

With the Nissl-method, Fañanas cells can be identified by their slightly bigger, roundish and ovally shaped nuclei, scattered in the molecular and granular layer.

The cells need to be prepared with a gold sublimate impregnation by Ramón y Cajal or a silver staining method.