title: Ultrastructural changes in the gracile nucleus of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The present study reports ultrastructural changes in the gracile nucleus of male Wistar rats after alloxan-induced diabetes. During the acute phase (3-7 days) degenerating electron-dense dendrites and axon terminals were dispersed in the neuropil. Degenerating dendrites were characterized by an electron-dense cytoplasm, swollen mitochondria, dilated endoplasmic reticulum and randomized ribosomes. Degenerating axon terminals were characterized by an electron-dense cytoplasm and clustering of small spherical agranular vesicles. Degenerating axon terminals may form the central element or part of a synaptic glomerulus. Macrophages were present in the neuropil and in the process of engulfing neuronal elements. During the medium phase (1-6 months), most of the degenerating dendrites and axon terminals had been engulfed or removed by macrophages. During the late phase (9-12 months), a second wave of degeneration occurred in the gracile nucleus, similar to the acute phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003712:Dendrites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors