Appearance of histochemically detectable ionic calcium in degenerating primary sensory neurons.

The effect of neonatal capsaicin treatment on the fine structure and localization of ionic calcium in sensory ganglion cells has been investigated in rats. Neonatal capsaicin treatment resulted in the degeneration of certain type B sensory neurons. At the same time ionic calcium was demonstrated histochemically in the perikarya of numerous small-sized ganglion cells. The appearance of histochemically detectable ionic calcium in these cells in relation to the pharmacologically evoked degeneration of certain primary sensory neurons is discussed.