[M-Enk expressing in the lamina II of cat spinal cord after deafferentation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the Methionine Enkephalin (M-Enk) expression in lamina II of cat spinal cord and the atypical complex terminal (ACT) after complete dorsal rhizotomy.


METHODS
10 male adult cats were divided into 2 groups after carrying out the complete dorsal rhizotomy: acute group, which survived 2 weeks; chronic group, which survived 2 months. At maturity, all cats were perfused after anaesthesia, the L6 segments of the spinal cord were removed and prepared for light and electron microscopy of M-Enk immunohistochemistry and for observing of ACT.


RESULTS
M-Enk immuno-reactivity can be seen in laminal II lateral sides both in operation and control sides in acute group. They were both decreased in chronic group on the photos by naked eyes, and little intensive in operation side on the photos. The immuno-positive ACTs have been founded in the Lamina II of chronic operation side beside some M-Enk immunopositive simple terminals, they are round or ellipse in shape and usually form flat or convex two synapse with two post-compounds. ACTs contained both clear vesicles and dense core vesicles.


CONCLUSIONS
M-Enk express in operation side after complete dorsal rhizotomy is mainly on the lateral side in lamina II. The M-Enk immuno-positive ACT may imply the mechanism of spinal cord plasticity.
Chen
Jian-Jun
JJ
Department of Anatomy and Histo-embryology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610083, China.
Yang
Qin
Q
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D019051:Rhizotomy; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine