Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructural and cytochemical study of neurones in the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus after axon crush. 1998

V Navaratnam, and T S Jacques, and J N Skepper

Multi-Imaging Centre, Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, UK.

The cell populations in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNV) of the rat were studied by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, including retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase and histochemical demonstration of the distribution of the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AcChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Two types of neurones were observed: 1) Larger Type A cells, which stain for both AcChE and BuChE and which project into the vagus nerve trunk, and 2) smaller Type B cells, which stain lightly for AcChE but not for BuChE and which do not project into the vagus nerve. Standardised vagal crush at the mid-cervical level causes loss of cholinesterase activity in Type A neurones within a few days but has no effect on Type B neurones. Changes in nuclear morphology of Type A neurones are pronounced at 10 weeks postinjury, indicating that degeneration is irreversible even by this stage. The number of Type A cells projecting to the vagus nerve reduces as a function of time, presumably as these cells die. Only a small number of Type A neurones persist at 2 years postinjury.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D009409	Nerve Crush	Treatment of muscles and nerves under pressure as a result of crush injuries.	Crush, Nerve
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
D002091	Butyrylcholinesterase	An aspect of cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8).	Pseudocholinesterase,Benzoylcholinesterase,Butyrylthiocholinesterase
D005260	Female		Females
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
D006735	Horseradish Peroxidase	An enzyme isolated from horseradish which is able to act as an antigen. It is frequently used as a histochemical tracer for light and electron microscopy. Its antigenicity has permitted its use as a combined antigen and marker in experimental immunology.	Alpha-Peroxidase,Ferrihorseradish Peroxidase,Horseradish Peroxidase II,Horseradish Peroxidase III,Alpha Peroxidase,II, Horseradish Peroxidase,III, Horseradish Peroxidase,Peroxidase II, Horseradish,Peroxidase III, Horseradish,Peroxidase, Ferrihorseradish,Peroxidase, Horseradish
D000110	Acetylcholinesterase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ACETYLCHOLINE to CHOLINE and acetate. In the CNS, this enzyme plays a role in the function of peripheral neuromuscular junctions. EC 3.1.1.7.	Acetylcholine Hydrolase,Acetylthiocholinesterase,Hydrolase, Acetylcholine
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
D001369	Axons	Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body.	Axon