[Changes in the structure of lamina IX of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord in dogs following limb amputation].

Neural cells, glia and capillary network in IX plate of L6 of the spinal cord were studied in 15 mature dogs (control) and in 15 dogs survived for 6 months after amputation of the right femur at the level of middle third. After injecting the vascular network with Indian ink--gelatin and after staining the neurons according to Nissl's technique, total amount of neuronal cells, alpha-motoneurons and glia were defined; section area of the body and nucleus of a-motoneurons, length of the capillary network around every alpha-motoneuron and capillary diameters were measured. Unlike the control and the contralateral side, in the ipsilateral IX plate the number of neurons decreased by 46%, the number of glial cells--by 22%, the length of the capillary network--by 38%; capillaries grew narrow. Amount of alpha-motoneurons did not differ from that of the control. Section area in the body of alpha-motoneuron decreased by 20%, in their nuclei--by 45%, and the length of the proper capillary network--by 42% as comparing to the control. compensatory hypertrophy in the contralateral IX plate was manifested in appearance of giant a-motoneurons, in increasing by 18% the length of the vascular network feeding them, in dilatation of capillaries and in increasing by 22% the number of glial cells.