[Ultrastructural changes in the neurons and interneuronal connections of the lateral hypothalamic area in rats at different times of food deprivation].

Changes in bodies of neurons, their processes and synapses in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in rats at various time (1, 3, 5 and 7 days) of food deprivation have been studied electron microscopically. The changes in the posterior part of the LHA are the first and in the middle part of the LHA are the last to appear. The number of altered bodies of the neurons, their processes, synapses and severity of their injury during all the time of fasting is the greatest in the posterior and the least in the middle part of the LHA. The character of the ultrastructural changes is unitypical everywhere. Dendrites, especially those of middle and large size are the first to be injured. Their changes immediately acquire destructive character (vacuolization of dendroplasm, appearance of complex membranous bodies, swelling and destruction od microtubules and neurofilaments). One of peculiar features of the destructive changes of the neuronal processes and synapses is invagination of adjoining areas of axons and synapses into the dendrite. In the bodies of the neurons the changes appear later than in the dendrites and at first they are of functional character and only beginning from the 5th day of fasting certain signs of destructive disorders are noted. With increasing time of fasting, the injury is growing more severe and a greater and a greater number of the neuronal bodies, processes and synapses are involved into the pathological process.