Peripheral chromatolysis in spinal ganglia neurons after aortic ligature in dog.

The chromatolytic response of neurons to repeated aortic ligature (2 X 40 min) was studied in lumbar spinal ganglia in dogs with 1, 2, 3 and 6 days survival. The cells were examined by electron microscopy and morphometry. The early changes of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were characterized by a degranulation of its cisterns and disaggregation of polysomes and resulted in reduction of membrane component remarkable mainly in the peripheral zone of cytoplasm. The chromatolytic neurons were more numerous after a 2 days survival and most of them (60%) showed signs of peripheral chromatolysis. Morphometric analysis revealed a significant decrease in ER area and an increase in its cistern dispersion as well as a reduction of ER membrane component (2 days). Changes of the observed parameters with longer period of survival (6 days) turned to normal level.