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Transneuronal changes in the gracile nucleus
Author(s) -
Loewy Arthur D.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.901470405
Subject(s) - nissl body , biology , anatomy , spinal cord , nucleus , denervation , population , autopsy , neuron , neuroscience , pathology , staining , medicine , genetics , environmental health
The gracile nucleus was studied in the monkey and man with light microscopic methods after lesions to the posterior columns. The medullas from six autopsy cases were studied; four of these were from patients who had survived spinal cord transections for periods of 2, 22, 41 days, and 22 years. The deafferented gracile neurons did not show changes in Nissl substance, in neurofibrillar patterns, or in nuclear structure that could be directly related to posterior column denervation. Neuron counts of the gracile nucleus were made in one case of a T9 spinal transection of 22 years standing and yielded figures not significantly different from those established by systematic counts in other human autopsy material in which CNS lesions were not present. In the monkey, the neuronal population of the gracile nucleus did not change as a result of posterior column transection. In cases of six months standing, the denervated neurons showed a 25% decrease in mean cell body area and about a 20% decrease in mean nuclear area. About 1% of the neurons on the operated side appeared darker in reduced silver preparations than any of the gracile neurons from the unoperated side.