Summary
The effect of axotomy on the numbers and density of perineuronal cell populations was evaluated in rats, cats and kittens. Cats were sacrificed at different postoperative time intervals two through 90 days after unilateral plexotomy. Kittens (6–10 weeks of age) were subjected to the same surgical procedure and sacrificed one through 28 days after surgery. Rats were sacrificed 10 and 15 days after unilateral lateral section of the brachial plexus or at 7 or 10 days after section of the left hypoglossal nerve. A marked increase in the total number and density of perineuronal cells occurred in the rat ventral horn 10 and 15 days after axotomy. A similar response was noted in the rat hypoglossal nucleus 7 and 10 days after neurotomy. In contrast, no significant change in these parameters was observed in the ventral horns of cats and kittens at any of the postoperative time intervals.
Although quantitatively demonstrable increases in the perineuronal cell populations occur in the ventral horns and hypoglossal nuclei of rats, similar modifications do not occur in the cat following axon injury. These findings suggest that evolutionary modifications may have occurred in how perineuronal glia respond to peripheral axon injury.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barron KD, Tuncbay TO (1962) Histochemistry of acid phosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase during axon reaction. Am J Pathol 40:637–652
Barron KD, Tuncbay TO (1964) Phosphatase histochemistry of feline cervical spinal cord after brachial plexectomy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 23:368–386
Barron KD, Chiang TY, Doolin PF (1971) Subcellular accompaniments of axon reaction in cervical motoneurons of cat. In: Zimmerman HM (ed) Progress in neuropathology, Vol 1. Grune and Stratton New York
Barron KD, Cova J, Scheibly ME, Kohberger R (1982) Morphometric measurements and RNA content of axotomized feline cervical motoneurons. J Neurocytol 11:707–720
Blizinger K, Kreutzberg G (1968) Displacement of synaptic terminals from regenerating motoneurons by microglial cells Z Zellforsch 85:145–157
Borke RC (1982) Perisomatic changes in the maturing hypoglossal nucleus after axon injury. J Neurocytol 11:463–485
Chen HD (1978) Qualitative and quantitative study of synaptic displacement in chromatolyzed spinal motoneurons of the cat. J Comp Neurol 177:635–664
Cova JL, Aldskogius HA (1982) A qualitative and quantitative evaluation of axon regeneration in the cat hypoglossal nerve. Anat Rec (Abstract) 202:36A
Cova JL, Barron KD (1981) Uptake of tritiated leucine by axotomized cervical motoneurons: An autoradiographic study. Exp Molec Pathol 34:159–169
Cova JL, Barron KD, Aldskogius H (1978) Kitten glial cell numbers and incorporation of 3H-leucine in response to axotomy. Anat Rec (Abstract) 190:370A
Davidoff M (1973) Über die Glia im Hypoglossuskern der Ratte nach Axotomie. Z Zellforsch 141:427–442
Friede RL, Johnstone MA (1967) Response of thymidine labelling of nucleic acid in gray matter and nerve following sciatic transection. Acta Neuropathol 7:218–231
Gilmore SA, Skinner RD (1979) Intraspinal non-neuronal cellular responses to peripheral nerve injury. Anat Rec 194:369–388
Hamberger A, Sjöstrand J (1966) Respiratory enzyme activities in neurons and glial cells of the hypoglossal nucleus during nerve regeneration. Acta Physiol Scand 67:76–88
Jacob SK, Durica TE (1983) Variations in the glial response following axotomy of different cranial nerves of the hamster. Anat Rec (Abstract) 205:90A
Kerns JM, Hinsman EJ (1973a) Neuroglial response to sciatic neurectomy. I. Light microscopy and autoradiography. J Comp Neurol 151:237–253
Kerns JM, Hinsman EJ (1973b) Neuroglial response to sciatic neurectomy. II. Electron microscopy. J Comp Neurol 151:255–280
Kreutzberg GW (1966) Autoradiographische Untersuchung über die Beteiligung von Gliazellen an der axonalen Reaktion im Facialisker der Ratte. Acta Neuropathol 7:149–161
Kreutzberg GW, Barron KD (1978) 5′nucleotidase of microglial cells in the facial nucleus during axon reaction. J Neurocytol 7:601–610
Lieberman AR (1974) Some factors affecting retrograde neuronal responses to axonal lesions. In: Bellairs R, Gray EG (eds) Essays on the nervous system. Clarendon Oxford
Means ED, Barron KD (1972) Histochemical and histological studies of axon reaction in feline motoneurons. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 31:221–246
Price DL (1972) The response of amphibian glial cells to axonal transection. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 31:267–277
Rapos M, Bakos J (1959) Veränderungen der Neuroglia im Nucleus originis Nervi hypoglossus nach mechanischer Beschädigung des Nervus hypoglossus. Zschr mikr anat Forsch 65:211–218
Sjöstrand J (1965) Proliferative changes in glial cells during nerve regeneration. Z Zellforsch 68:481–493
Sjöstrand J (1966) Glial cells in the hypoglossal nucleus of the rabbit during nerve regeneration. Acta Physiol (Scand) 67: (Suppl 170) 1–43
Sjöstrand J (1971) Neuroglial proliferation in the hypoglossal nucleus after nerve injury. Exp Neurol 50:178–189
Söreide AJ (1981) Variations in the perineuronal glial changes after different types of nerve lesions: Light and electron microscopic investigations on the facial nucleus of the rat. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 7:195–204
Standler NA, Bernstein JJ (1982) Degeneration and regeneration of motoneuron dentrites after ventral root crush: Computer reconstruction of dendritic fields. Exp Neurol 75:600–615
Sumner BEH (1974) The nature of the dividing cells around axotomized hypoglossal neurones. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 33:507–518
Sumner BEH, Sutherland FI (1973) Quantitative electron microscopy in the injured hypoglossal nucleus in the rat. J Neurocytol 2:315–328
Sumner BEH, Watson WE (1971) Retraction and expansion of the dendritic tree of motor neurones of adult rats induced in vivo. Nature 233:273–275
Torvik A (1972) Phagocytosis of nerve cells during retrograde degeneration. An electron microscopic study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 31:132–146
Torvik A, Skjörten F (1971) Electron microscopic observations on nerve cell regeneration and degeneration after axon lesions. II. Changes in the glial cells. Acta Neuropathol 17:265–282
Torvik A, Söreide AJ (1975) The perineuronal glial reaction after axotomy. Brain Res 95:519–529
Watson WE (1965) An autoradiographic study of the incorporation of nucleic acid precursors by neurons and glia during nerve regeneration. J Physiol 180:741–753
Watson WE (1966) Some quantitative observations upon the oxidation of substrates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in injured neurons. J Neurochem 13:849–856
Watson WE (1972) Some quantitative observations upon the response of neuroglial cells which follow axotomy of adjacent neurones. J Physiol 225:415–435
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cova, J.L., Aldskogius, H. Effect of nerve section on perineuronal glial cells in the CNS of rat and cat. Anat Embryol 169, 303–307 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315635
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315635