spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by CUÉNOD, M.
Right arrow Articles by AKERT, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by CUÉNOD, M.
Right arrow Articles by AKERT, K.

Journal of Cell Science, Vol 6, 605-613, Copyright © 1970 by Company of Biologists

Submitted on June 27, 1969

Enlarged Synaptic Vesicles as an Early Sign of Secondary Degeneration in the Optic Nerve Terminals of the Pigeon

M. CUÉNOD 1, CLARA SANDRI 1, and K. AKERT 1

1 Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland

The terminal degeneration of retino-tectal fibres was studied electron microscopically in the pigeon Synaptic vesicles seem to undergo systematic changes which can best be observed in aldehyde-fixed material. Initially (i.e. within 12-24 h) the vesicles begin to swell. The enlargement is clearly visible after 4 days (40 % increase in diameter) and reaches a maximum at 14 days (100% increase). At the latter stage, the enlargement is almost invariably associated with the well known opacity of degenerating terminals. In contrast, normal control tissue contains nerve endings with only a few enlarged and no ballooning vesicles. The conclusion seems warranted that the ballooning of synaptic vesicles is an early sign of terminal degeneration, it appears to precede vesicular disintegration.

Submitted on June 27, 1969




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ScienceHome page
M. PerisacuteIcacute and M. Cuenod
Synaptic Transmission Depressed by Colchicine Blockade of Axoplasmic Flow
Science, March 10, 1972; 175(4026): 1140 - 1142.
[Abstract] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1970