Biomaterial Database

Transplanted sympathetic neurons from old rats survive in the anterior eye chamber: a histochemical and electron microscopic study. 1993

J Suhonen, and A Hervonen

Department of Public Health, University of Tampere Medical School, Finland.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the viability and ultrastructural characteristics of intraocular superior cervical ganglion (SCG) grafts from young (3 months), aged (24 months) and very old (36 months) rats after short-term (1 month) grafting. The formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF) technique for histochemical demonstration of catecholamines was used to indicate the functionality of transplanted neurons. Ultrastructural changes in grafts were demonstrated by electron microscopy. Four weeks after transplantation, catecholamine histofluorescence in young transplants was almost as strong as in the intact ganglia, while aged and very old grafts showed decreased fluorescence and contained a marked accumulation of autofluorescent lipopigment bodies. Catecholamine histofluorescence showed a decrease in neuronal density of 47%, 59% and 68% in young, aged and very old grafted ganglia, respectively. The shape of most of the transplanted neurons did not differ from that in the intact ganglia, but the average diameter of neurons was decreased after grafting. In electron microscopy, both neurons with normal in vivo fine structure and neurons showing some abnormal cytological alterations were seen in each age group of the transplants. The most prominent feature after grafting was the accumulation of different types of lipopigment bodies in the perikarya of neurons. the organization of the rough endoplasmic reticulum was more irregular in transplanted neurons than in intact neurons. In addition, the amount of neurofilament aggregates increased and some mitochondria were swollen in neurons after transplantation. These results suggest that young sympathetic ganglion tissue survives rather well after transplantation into the anterior eye chamber, while in the aged sympathetic ganglion implants the survival rate is poorer. However, aged and very old SCG grafts were shown to contain and continue to produce noradrenaline, indicating that sympathetic neurons maintain their plasticity and regenerative ability in advanced age. Catecholamine histofluorescence and fine structural changes in the cell structure of grafted sympathetic neurons may indicate an accelerated aging process induced by the transplantation procedure.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008856	Microscopy, Fluorescence	Microscopy of specimens stained with fluorescent dye (usually fluorescein isothiocyanate) or of naturally fluorescent materials, which emit light when exposed to ultraviolet or blue light. Immunofluorescence microscopy utilizes antibodies that are labeled with fluorescent dye.	Fluorescence Microscopy,Immunofluorescence Microscopy,Microscopy, Immunofluorescence,Fluorescence Microscopies,Immunofluorescence Microscopies,Microscopies, Fluorescence,Microscopies, Immunofluorescence
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002395	Catecholamines	A general class of ortho-dihydroxyphenylalkylamines derived from TYROSINE.	Catecholamine,Sympathin,Sympathins
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D005728	Ganglia, Sympathetic	Ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system including the paravertebral and the prevertebral ganglia. Among these are the sympathetic chain ganglia, the superior, middle, and inferior cervical ganglia, and the aorticorenal, celiac, and stellate ganglia.	Celiac Ganglia,Sympathetic Ganglia,Celiac Ganglion,Ganglion, Sympathetic,Ganglia, Celiac,Ganglion, Celiac,Sympathetic Ganglion
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D000375	Aging	The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time.	Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia