Experimental degeneration of the preganglionic fibers in the superior cervical ganglion of the cat (original) (raw)

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Summary

The ultrastructural features of secondary axon degeneration of the preganglionic fibers in the cat cervical superior ganglion are described and compared with degeneration in the CNS.

1. 1. Following preganglionic sectioning, the first signs of degeneration are observed between 6 and 12 hours postoperatively. They consist of the formation of so called axon cytolysomes, characteristic osmiophilic inclusions surrounded by one limiting membrane containing various intraaxonal organelles of the terminal unmyelinated portion of the presynaptic axon fiber. Within 12–48 hours the whole unmyelinated portion is transformed into cytolysomes, which simultaneously are taken up and cleared away by the enveloping Schwann cell processes. The elimination process of the axon remnants (cytolysomes) is so rapid, that three days after axotomy practically no presynaptic terminals can be seen within the ganglion.
2. 1. No intraaxonal cytolysome formation is generally found in the degenerating CNS axons. Osmiophilia and shrinkage develop indirectly in the still unfragmented axon. Pieces of the shrunken terminal are ingested gradually by the activated glia. The ingested fragments are true cellular inclusions in the beginning, separated from the glial plasma by a double membrane and are transformed only later into cytolysomes limited by a single membrane. The degeneration-time in the CNS is three to five days on the average, thus it proceeds much slower than in sympathetic neurons.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Anatomy, University Medical School, Budapest
   J. Hámori, Eszter Láng & L. Simon

Authors

1. J. Hámori
2. Eszter Láng
3. L. Simon

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Hámori, J., Láng, E. & Simon, L. Experimental degeneration of the preganglionic fibers in the superior cervical ganglion of the cat.Z. Zellforsch 90, 37–52 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496701

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• Received: 29 April 1968
• Issue date: March 1968
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496701

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