Syncytial connections of neurocytes – from complete denial to complete recognition?

The theory of universal synthetic communication in the 19th century was supported by almost all neurohistologists. The theory had attractive and convenient explanations and declared the modular functioning of neurocytes. So why was it later completely rejected and replaced by the neural doctrine? The main thing is that it was not possible to explain the causes of the appearance and establish patterns of development of syncytial interneuronal and interneuritic connections. And even more so, to prove their functional feasibility. Moreover, all the works of the founder of the neural doctrine Santiago Ramén y Cajal and his followers were performed using the chrome-silver Golgi's method. It allows us to obtain hyperimpregnated pictures of neural structures that hide subtle interneuronal syncytial connections. They were identified among the complex arborizations in the illustrations in the monographs of Ramén y Cajal using the method of computer unmasking. A review of the literature will provide an objective insight into the ongoing discussion about syncytial connections in the nervous system.

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