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Thiophen induced granule cell necrosis in the rat cerebellum an electron microscopic study

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Summary

Granule cell necrosis was produced in rats by thiophen injection. The earliest detectable change was the formation of blebs in the perinuclear cisternae. This was followed by precipitation of the nuclear chromatin and rupture of the cell membrane. Removal of the cell debris was accomplished by phagocytic cells in the walls of small blood vessels, hematogenous macrophages and astrocytes. Many of the mossy fiber endings and some of the Golgi II cells degenerated secondarily. The degenerated presynaptic contacts of the parallel fibers were replaced by processes of the Bergmann glia which completely surrounded the Purkinje cell spines. These spines retained their usual appearance including the usual thickening of the post synaptic membrane.

Implications of these findings are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Harvard university Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Robert M. Herndon

  2. Department of Neurology, Veterans Administration Hospital, 3801 Junipero Serra Blvd., 94304, Palo Alto, California, USA

    Robert M. Herndon

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  1. Robert M. Herndon
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Additional information

The author expresses his gratitude to Dr. Sanford Palay for his advice and help in carrying out this work.

The investigations on which this report is based were supported in part by Public Health Service Grants No. B-3659 and No. 1 F11 NB 1538 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness.

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Herndon, R.M. Thiophen induced granule cell necrosis in the rat cerebellum an electron microscopic study. Exp Brain Res 6, 49–68 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235446

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235446

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