Open AccessA HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE HUMAN SPINAL GANGLIA. NORMAL VARIATIONS IN AGING
Author(s) -
Nagashima Kazuo,
Oota Kunio
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
acta patholigica japonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 0001-6632
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1974.tb00827.x
Subject(s) - pathology , medicine , anatomy
The cervical and lumbar ganglia from 285 cases of a consecutive series of autopsies were examined to obtain quantitative data on the number and size of nerve cells, the ratio of connective tissue to parenchym and the appearance ratio of degenerated cells. Twelve cases without referable diseases in the central and peripheral nervous systems were selected as standard material representing normal aging processes. Serial sections were observed in order to avoid misjudgement. The average number of nerve cells varied from 7.0 × 10 4 in the first decade to 4.5 × 10 4 in the seventh decade, showing a decrease of about 2.5 × 10 4 cells (36%). The average size of nerve cells remained fairly constant after the second decade, ranging between 25μ and 135mU with a single peak at 60 μ in a nearly standard curve distribution. Degenerated cells first appeared in the late second decade and there was an increase of connective tissue after the fourth decade. The age‐dependent changes in the ganglia started in the third decade as cellular atrophy and satellitosls. Gradual replacement of the nerve elements by fibrous connective tissue took place during the following several years by the form of selerotic change and residual nodule. These age‐dependent qualitative and quantitative changes should be important in the interpretation of findings in cases with delicate sensory disturbances.