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Ultrastructural study of transganglionic degeneration following dental lesions

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Summary

Transganglionic degeneration in the trigeminal main sensory nucleus (MSN) and pars interpolaris (PI) was studied in cats following dental lesions. At early survival times, three types of terminal alteration were seen in both MSN and PI: (1) flocculent degeneration, (2) neurofilamentous hyperplasia and, (3) glycogen accumulation. With longer survival times, the magnitude of these terminal alterations increases. Electron dense degeneration was only seen in the ventral half of PI. Phagocytosis of the altered terminals was also observed. The study suggests a plausible explanation for the variations observed in the CNS projection of primary afferents with degeneraton and with HRP transport studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurological Surgery, Biological Structure, Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    L. R. Johnson, L. E. Westrum & R. C. Canfield

Authors
  1. L. R. Johnson
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  2. L. E. Westrum
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  3. R. C. Canfield
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Additional information

Supported by grants DE 05212, DE 04942, NS 09678 and NS 04053 from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Westrum is also an affiliate of the Child Development and Mental Retardation Center of the University of Washington

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Johnson, L.R., Westrum, L.E. & Canfield, R.C. Ultrastructural study of transganglionic degeneration following dental lesions. Exp Brain Res 52, 226–234 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236631

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236631

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