[Ultrastructural changes in the axons of the central nervous system in experimental amyotrophic leukospongiosis].

Ultrastructural changes, various by their character and the degree of expression, have been found in axons of the spinal cord of guinea-pigs with amyotrophic leukospongiosis (AL) (a slow infection of the CNS). The dependence of the degree of degenerative changes on the disease duration is shown. Absorption of cellular debris by oligodendrocytes and astrocytes is noted. It seems that microglia does not participate in phagocytosis. The conclusion has been made that experimental AL is a convenient model for studying the mechanisms of death of the central axons and analysis of the glia cell function under the conditions of keeping the blood-brain barrier intact.