Axotomy-induced changes in cell structure and membrane excitability are sustained in a vertebrate central neuron.
The retrograde reactions of the goldfish Mauthner neuron to axotomy 8-10 mm caudal to its soma are detectable within a few weeks and persist for more than 200 days. Morphological changes include chromatolysis, reflecting a redistribution of cytoplasmic ribosomes, and infolding of the nuclear membrane. At the time, the normally inexcitable soma-dendritic membrane becomes capable of impulse initiation; this induced excitability also persists for at least 200 days.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006054:Goldfish; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*