[Study of the effects of amyotrophic leukospongiosis causative agent on neuroglia cells in vitro].

The influence of amyotrophic leukospongiosis (AL) causative agent on the ultrastructure of different types of cells of dissociated rat embryo brain and spinal cord cultures was studied. The AL agent belongs to the unconventional viruses (prions) and causes degenerative changes in the CNS. Large neurons and fibrous astrocytes were shown to be most sensitive. It was noted that the time of development and the degree of the dystrophic changes depend on the agent concentration. The destruction of cell membranes resulted in the pair neuron confluence. The formation of giant mitochondria with intramitochondrial inclusions was detected. It is supposed that the energetic apparatus of sensitive cells is primarily damaged by the infectious agent.