[The quantitative morphological characteristics of the spinal neurons in the kitten developing under conditions of limited afferent input].

Golgi preparations of cervical part of the spinal cord were used to study sparely and densely branching neurons of lamina VII, sparely and densely branching neurons of lamina VIII and large densely branching motor neurons of lamina IX in 30-day kittens developing under the conditions of limited reticulospinal input. Limitation was induced by electrocoagulation of bulbar magnocellular nucleus and caudal reticular pontine nucleus performed at the 7th day. Computerized morphometry revealed that partial deafferentation affects the geometry in all studied cell types except densely branching neurons of lamina VIII. Adaptive nature of structural reorganization of spinal neurons and possible relationship between morphological properties and functional profile of cells are discussed.