Ultrastructural and quantitative investigations of the spinal ganglia neurons after ligation of the abdominal aorta.

The structural changes in spinal ganglia neurons of dogs subjected to repeated 40-minute ligation of the abdominal aorta with 1-6 day survival were studied by means of electron microscopy and morphometry. The endoplasmic reticulum shows marked changes with a decrease of bound ribosomes as well as a reduction of the membranous component, especially in the peripheral zone of cytoplasm. There were frequently noticed local deposits of filamentous material. Qualitative and quantitative changes had the same time course, culminating on the second to third day of survival. Later [6 days] some signs of neuronal recovery can be observed.