CYTOCHROME OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN THE VENTRAL HORN CELL OF THE SPINAL CORD IN THE RABBIT: ULTRA STRUCTURAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Dynamic property of the neurons in the ventral horn cells of the spinal cord in the rabbit were partly treated utilizing the activity of cytochrome oxidase, a mitochondrial enzyme which is responsible for electron transport in oxidative phosphorylation needed for vital processes.Objective: It has been known recently that the vital role of this enzyme was clearly evident in the apoptosis. This study high lightens a point on a part of the metabolic map of the anterior horn cells with the use of cytochrome oxidase activity as a tool.Methods: Healthy adult New Zealand rabbits in resting condition were used. After Laminectomy slices of cord tissue obtained from the lumbosacral region precisely its gray mater of the anterior horn, then they were treated with a histochemical method based on the oxidative polymerization of diamino- benzidine, then examined under electron microscopy.Result: Results revealed different intensity of final reaction products at both cellular and subcellular levels. Conclusion: This reflects that the oxidative metabolism was varied in this area of the CNS, the majority of this activity were due to effect of the higher centers. At subcellular level the initiation of retrograde cell reaction "apoptosis" correlates positively with intensity of the FRP. Key word: Cytochrome oxidase, Enzyme commission number, Central nervous system, Final reaction product