Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nerve cell degeneration and death in the trigeminal ganglion of the adult rat following peripheral nerve transection

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

Trigeminal ganglia of normal rats and of adult rats subjected to unilateral transection of the infraorbital nerve were studied by light and electron microscopy. Counts of ganglion cells in ganglia on operated and unoperated sides were made following long postoperative survival times. The ultrastructural changes in ganglia of the operated side were studied from 3 to 70 days postoperatively. The quantitative observations show that a considerable loss of ganglion cells takes place on the operated side. The ultrastructural observations demonstrate the occurrence of ganglion cell degeneration, nerve fibre degeneration and phagocytosis by satellite and Schwann cells. The results are compatible with the view that degeneration of trigeminal afferents in the brain stem following lesions of peripheral trigeminal nerve branches is related to retrograde degeneration of trigeminal ganglion cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldskogius, H. (1974) Indirect and direct Wallerian degeneration in the intramedullary root fibres of the hypoglossal nerve. An electron microscopical study in the kitten.Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology 50, 7–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, K. V. andPearl, G. S. (1974) Transmedian innervation of canine tooth pulp in cats.Experimental Neurology 44, 35–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andres, K. H. (1961) Untersuchungen über Morphologische Veränderungen in Spinal ganglien während der retrograden Degeneration.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 55, 49–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barron, K. D., Daniels, A. C., Chiang, T. Y. andDoolin, P. F. (1970) Fine Structure of chromatolytic feline motoneurons.Experimental and Molecular Pathology 12, 46–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barron, K. D., Chiang, T. Y., Daniels, A. C. andDoolin, P. P. (1971) Subcellular accompaniments of axon reaction in cervical motoneurons of the cat. In:Progress in Neuropathology (edited byZimmerman, H. M.), pp. 225–80. New York: Grune and Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barron, K. D., Means, E. D. andLarsen, E. (1973) Ultrastructure of retrograde degeneration in thalamus of rat. I. Neuronal somata and dendrites.Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 32, 218–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barron, K. D., Dentinger, M. P., Nelson, L. R. andMingy, J. E. (1975) Ultrastructure of axonal reaction in red nucleus in cat.Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 34, 222–48.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berthold, C-H. (1968) A study on the fixation of large mature feline myelinated ventral lumbar spinal-root fibres.Acta Societatis Medicorum Upsaliensis 73, Suppl.9, 1–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantino, D. andDaneo, L. S. (1972) Cell death in developing chick optic nerve.Brain Research 38, 13–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavanaugh, M. W. (1951) Quantitative effects of the peripheral innervation area on nerves and spinal ganglion cells.Journal of Comparative Neurology 94, 181–218.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choukas, N. C., Toto, P. D. andNolan, R. F. (1974) A histologie study of the regeneration of the inferior alveolar nerve.Journal of Oral Surgery 32, 347–352.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, W. M. (1973) Neuronal death as a regulative mechanism in the control of cell number in the nervous system. In:Development and Aging in the Nervous System (edited byRockstein, M.), pp. 19–41. New York, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darian-Smith, I., Mutton, P. andProctor, R. (1965) Functional organization of tactile cutaneous afferents within the semilunar ganglion and trigeminal spinal tract of the cat.Journal of Neurophysiology 28, 682–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Castro, F. (1932) Sensory ganglia of the cranial and spinal nerves, normal and pathological. In:Cytology and Cellular Pathology of the Nervous System (edited byPenfield, W.), pp. 93–143. New York: P. B. Hoeber.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deduve, C. andWattiaux, R. (1966) Functions of lysosomes.Annual Review of Physiology 28, 435–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, A. D. (1963) Fine structure of nerve-cell bodies and satellite cells in the trigeminal ganglion.Journal of Dental Research 42, 990–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D. H. L. andGray, E. G. (1961) Changes in the fine structure of ganglion cells during chromatolysis. In:Cytology of Nervous Tissue, Proceedings of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, pp. 71–4. London: Taylor and Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galich, J. W., Gregg, J. M. andDuncan, G. H. (1976) Quantitative study of trigeminal ganglion response to peripheral nerve trauma.Journal of Dental Research 55, 603 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover, R. A. (1967) Sequential cellular changes in the nodosal ganglion following section of the vagus nerve at two levels.Anatomical Record 157, 248 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gobel, S. andBinck, J. M. (1977) Degenerative changes in primary trigeminal axons and in neurons in nucleus caudalis following tooth pulp extirpations in the cat.Brain Research 132, 347–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldblatt, P. J. (1969) The endoplasmic reticulum. In:Handbook of Molecular Cytology (edited byLima De Faria, A.), pp. 1101–29. Amsterdam, London: North Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, G. (1970) Neuronal changes central to the site of axon transection. A method for the identification of retrograde changes in perikarya, dendrites, and axons by silver impregnation. In:Contemporary Research Methods in Neuroanatomy (edited byNauta, W. J. H. andEbbeson, S. O. E.). pp. 173–85. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, G. andArvidsson, J. (1975) Transganglionic degeneration in trigeminal primary sensory neurons.Brain Research 95, 265–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, G., Ekvall, L. andWestman, J. (1970) Transganglionic degeneration in the vestibular nerve. In:Vestibular function on earth and in space (edited byStahle, J.), pp. 301–305. Oxford, New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenman, M. J. (1913) Studies on the regeneration of the peroneal nerve of the albino rat: number and sectional areas of fibers: area relation of axis to sheath.Journal of Comparative Neurology 23, 479–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grillo, M. A. (1970) Cytoplasmic inclusions resembling nucleoli in sympathetic neurons of adult rats.Journal of Cell Biology 45, 100–117.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamburger, V. (1975) Cell death in the development of the lateral motor column of the chick embryo.Journal of Comparative Neurology 160, 535–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, A. (1961) Cell degeneration in the larval ventral horn ofXenopus laevis (Daudia).Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology 9, 269–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humbertson, A. (1963) A chronological study of the degenerative phenomena of dorsal root ganglia cells following section of the sciatic nerve.Anatomical Record 145, 244 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Humbertson, A., Zimmerman, E. andLeedy, M. (1969) A chronological study of mitotic activity in satellite cell hyperplasia associated with chromatolytic neurons.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 100, 507–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imamoto, K. (1972) Histochemical changes in the mesencephalic nucleus and motor nucleus following neurotomy of the third division of the trigeminal nerve.Archivum histologicum japonicum 34, 19–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalil, K. andSchneider, G. E. (1975) Retrograde cortical and axonal changes following lesions of the pyramidal tract.Brain Research 89, 15–27.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson, U. andSchultz, R. L. (1965) Fixation of the central nervous system for electron microscopy by aldehyde perfusion. I. Preservation with aldehyde perfusates versus direct perfusion with osmium tetroxide with special reference to membranes and the extracellular space.Journal of Ultrastructure Research 12, 160–86.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, S. W. L. andLysak, W. R. (1964) Somatotropic organization of trigeminal-ganglion neurons.Archives of Neurology 11, 593–602.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick, J. B. (1968) Chromatolysis in the hypoglossal nucleus of the rat: an electron microscope analysis.Journal of Comparative Neurology 132, 189–212.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knyihar, E. andCsillik, B. (1976) Effect of peripheral axotomy on the fine structure and histochemistry of the Rolando substance: degenerative atrophy of central processes of pseudounipolar cells.Experimental Brain Research 26, 73–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konigsmark, B. W. (1970) Methods for the counting of neurons. In:Contemporary Research Methods in Neuroanatomy (edited byNauta, W. J. H. andEbbeson, S. O. E.). pp. 315–40. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leech, R. W. (1967) Changes in satellite cells of rat dorsal root ganglia during central chromatolysis. An electron microscope study.Neurology 17, 349–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, A. R. (1968) An investigation by light and electron microscopy of chromatolytic and other phenomena induced in mammalian nerve cells by experimental lesions. Ph.D. Thesis. University of London.

  • Lieberman, A. R. (1971) The axon reaction: A review of the principal features of perikaryal responses to axon injury.International Review of Neurobiology 14, 49–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, A. R. (1974) Some factors affecting retrograde neuronal responses to axonal lesions. In:Essays on the Nervous System (edited byBellairs, R. andGray, E. G.), pp. 71–105. Oxford: Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugaro, E. (1904) On the pathology of the cells of the sensory ganglia. Quoted by D. Orr.Revue Neurologie et Psychiatrie 2, 228–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackey, E. A., Spiro, D. andWiener, J. (1964) A study of chromatolysis in dorsal root ganglia at the cellular level.Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 23, 508–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, A. J. andFriede, R. L. (1970) Changes in nerve cell bodies during the myelination of their axons.Journal of Comparative Neurology 138, 329–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maruyama, S. andD'agostino, A. N. (1967) Cell necrosis in the central nervous system of normal rat fetuses. An electron microscopic study.Neurology 17, 550–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. A. (1973) Death of the central neuron: an electron microscope study of thalamic retrograde degeneration following cortical ablation.Journal of Neurocytology 2, 265–88.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. andRaisman, G. (1972) A light and electron microscope study of the cellular response to axonal injury in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat.Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 181, 43–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moradian, G. P. andRustioni, A. (1977) Transganglionic degeneration in the dorsal horn and dorsal column nuclei of adults rats.Anatomical Record 187, 660 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • O'connor, T. M. andWyttenbach, C. R. (1974) Cell death in the embryonic chick spinal cord.Journal of Cell Biology 60, 448–59.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pannese, E. (1963) Investigations on the ultrastructural changes of the spinal ganglion neurons in the course of axon regeneration and cell hypertrophy. I. Changes during axon regeneration.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 60, 711–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peach, R. (1972a) Fine structural features of light and dark cells in the trigeminal ganglion of the rat.Journal of Neurocytology 1, 151–60.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peach, R. (1972b) Nematosomes in the rat trigeminal ganglion.Journal of Cell Biology 55, 718–21.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Price, D. L. andPorter, K. R. (1972) The response of ventral horn neurons to axonal transection.Journal of Cell Biology 53, 24–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ranson, S. W. (1906) Retrograde degeneration in the spinal nerves.Journal of Comparative Neurology 16, 265–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranson, S. W. (1909) Alterations in the spinal ganglion cells following neurotomy.Journal of Comparative Neurology 19, 125–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simard, R., Langelier, Y., Mandeville, R., Maestracci, N. andRoyal, A. (1974) Inhibitors as tools in elucidating the structure and function of the nucleus. In:The Cell Nucleus (edited byBusch, H.), pp. 447–487. New York, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. L. andAdrian, E. D. (1972) On the presence of mononuclear leucocytes in dorsal root ganglia following transection of the sciatic nerve.Anatomical Record 172, 581–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smuckler, E. A. andArcasoy, M. (1969) Structural and functional changes of the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatic parenchymal cells. In:International Review of Experimental Pathology, Vol. 7 (edited byRichter, G. W. andEpstein, M. A.), pp. 305–418. New York, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotelo, C., Javoy, F., Agid, Y. andGlowinski, J. (1973) Injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in the substantia nigra of the rat. I. Morphological study.Brain Research 58, 269–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takano, I. (1964) Electron microscopic studies on retrograde chromatolysis in the hypoglossal nucleus and changes in the hypoglossal nerve, following its severance and ligation.Okajimas Folia anatomica Japonica 40, 1–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torvik, A. (1972) Phagocytosis of nerve cells during retrograde degeneration.Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 31, 132–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torvik, A. andSkjörten, F. (1971) Electron microscope observations on nerve cell regeneration and degeneration after axon lesion. I. Changes in the nerve cell cytoplasm.Acta Neuropathologica 17, 248–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trump, B. F. andArstila, A. W. (1971) Cell injury and cell death. In:Principles of Pathobiology (edited byLa Via, M. F., andHill, R. N. Jr.). pp. 9–95. London, New York, Toronto: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westrum, L. E., Canfield, R. C. andBlack, R. G. (1976) Transganglionic degeneration in the spinal trigeminal nucleus following removal of toothpulps in adult cats.Brain Research 101, 137–40.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Karolinska Institutet, S-10401, Stockholm 60, Sweden

    Håkan Aldskogius & Jan Arvidsson

Authors
  1. Håkan Aldskogius
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Arvidsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aldskogius, H., Arvidsson, J. Nerve cell degeneration and death in the trigeminal ganglion of the adult rat following peripheral nerve transection. J Neurocytol 7, 229–250 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01217921

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01217921

Keywords

Search

Navigation