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The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat III. An electron microscopical study after transection of spinal afferents

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Summary

The ultrastructure of terminal degeneration within the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) after transection of its spinal afferent fibers 2 days–2 years earlier is described. The degeneration after 2 days was of both the neurofilamentous and dense type. The highest number of degenerating terminals, about 15%, was found after 4–5 days. Then most of the degenerating boutons were of the dense type. The degenerating terminals had synaptic contact with cell bodies and dendrites of LCN-neurons. Removal of the degenerating boutons seemed to be effected by a phagocytic cell present in increased number compared to the normal LCN. In cases with long survival times an increase in the number of astroglial filaments was observed. In an animal where the spinal afferents to the LCN had been cut 2 years earlier a decrease in medium size of the neurons was observed. The amount of dendritic spines was also considerably smaller than normally.

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  1. Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Uppsala, Sweden

    Jan Westman

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Westman, J. The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat III. An electron microscopical study after transection of spinal afferents. Exp Brain Res 7, 32–50 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236106

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