Electron Microscope Evaluation of late changes in the nerve fibers and neurons induced by Sciatic nerve section in rabbits

Abstract

The aim of the study was to demonstrate late changes occurs after Sciatic nerve section [nerve fibers and their associated neurons]. Five adult rabbits were used in this study. Sciatic nerve was sectioned under general anesthesia. After ninety days, all animals were sacrificed and samples were taken from ventral horn of spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion at L₇ segment level and from sciatic nerve for electron microscope evaluation. The results revealed different changes include: separation of the myelin sheath lamellae within ventral horn, the Nissl bodies were scattered within sensory neuron thoughout the cytoplasm specially at the periphery, the cytoplasm contain numerous closed vesicles of different size associated with endoplasmic tubules and the myelin sheath usually forming a loop, axons seemed relatively smaller than normal. All of which are common features of axonal atrophy