Formation of "dark" (argyrophilic) neurons of various origin proceeds with a common mechanism of biophysical nature (a novel hypothesis).
Based on recent findings described in accompanying reports as well as on relevant observations in the literature we hypothesize that: (1) the fundamental elements in the mechanism of the formation of "dark" (argyrophilic) neurons are independent of the causative conditions including post-mortem or in vivo mechanical injuries and various in vivo pathometabolic processes such as blood recirculation following ischemia; (2) the causative conditions, each in its own mechanical or metabolic way, induce the same morphopathological damage at one point only within each affected neuron; (3) this damage spreads throughout the respective somato-dendritic or axonal domain and entails type III argyrophilia; (4) the intraneuronal spread of the morphopathological damage consumes mechanical energy stored by the neurofilaments in the form of a metastable inner structure, and (5) is propagated by a process working, in certain structural and energetical respects, on the domino principle; and (6) the primary neuronal damage caused in the above manner might be secondarily modified in different directions by different postcausation conditions.
Gallyas
F
F
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pécs, Hungary.
Zoltay
G
G
Dames
W
W
D000818:Animals; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats