Treponema pallidum in nerve fibres.
Ultrathin sections of a rabbit scrotal syphiloma were examined by electron microscopy. Treponemes were observed in the endo-, peri-, and epineurium of the nerve fibre. The significance of these findings, in that infection may be transmitted via the nerve fibres and pain reduced by damage to the afferent fibres, are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000382:microbiology; D011817:Rabbits; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013587:Syphilis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification*