Transneuronal degeneration in the heart and gastro-oesophageal junction in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis) following unilateral vagotomy.
This study describes, at the ultrastructural level, the transneuronal degeneration that occurs in the atrial and gastro-oesophageal ganglia of the monkey following unilateral vagotomy. One day after unilateral vagotomy, some postganglionic neurons showed an overall increase in electron density, with the dendrites darkening first. Three days after the operation, the dendrites appeared jet black and their intracytoplasmic organelles were hardly distinguishable except for some pale mitochondria. The perikarya of the affected neurons showed a slight increase in electron density. Five and seven days after the operation, satellite cells and macrophages with engulfed dendritic processes were commonly observed. The majority of the postganglionic neurons appeared normal, except for the presence of numerous macrophages in their vicinities. The results of the study suggest that transneuronal degeneration occurs very rapidly in the heart and gastro-oesophageal junction of the monkey, Macaca fascicularis, and that most of the affected neurons have recovered one week after the operation.
D000818:Animals; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation*; D005724:Ganglia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013270:Stomach / Q000294:innervation*