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Histological observations on Wallerian degeneration in the spinal cord of the baboon,Papio papio

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Summary

Wallerian degeneration in the spinal cord was produced by cutting dorsal roots or excising dorsal root ganglia of 19 baboons, which were allowed to survive for from 26 hours to 428 days. Histological examination shows that the myelin sheath breaks up into ellipsoids and balls within days and that these retain the staining properties of normal myelin for many weeks. Myelin breakdown products in the form of cholesterol esters do not appear in any quantity in the degenerated tract for at least 8 weeks. Neuroglial cells react rapidly but microglial proliferation does not occur for many weeks. The findings contrast with Wallerian degeneration in peripheral nerve where the breakdown products of myelin appear early and are rapidly removed. The process of myelin degeneration in central Wallerian degeneration is different from that seen in other conditions of the central nervous system such as disseminated sclerosis, allergic encephalomyelitis or infarction.

Zusammenfassung

Wallersche Degeneration wurde im Rückenmark von 19 Pavianen durch Durchtrennung von Hinterwurzeln oder Excision von Hinterwurzelganglien erzeugt. Die Überlebenszeit der Tiere betrug 26 Std bis 428 Tage. Histologische Untersuchungen zeigen, daß die Markscheide binnen Tagen in elliptische und kugelige Fragmente zerfällt und daß diese die Färbeeigenschaften von normalem Myelin durch viele Wochen beibehalten. Markzerfallprodukte in Form von Cholesterinestern treten in den degenerierenden Strängen nicht vor 8 Wochen auf. Gliazellen reagieren rasch, während Mikrogliaproliferation viele Wochen hindurch nicht auftritt. Die Befunde unterscheiden sich von der Wallerschen Degeneration in peripheren Nerven, wo die Markzerfallsprodukte früh auftreten und rasch abgeräumt werden. Der Prozeß der markdegeneration bei zentraler Wallerscher Degeneration unterscheidet sich von jenem bei anderen Erkrankungen des ZNS, wie multipler Sklerose, allergischer Encephalomyelitis oder Infarkten.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry, de Crespigny Park, S E 5, London, England

    P. M. Daniel & Sabina J. Strich

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  1. P. M. Daniel
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  2. Sabina J. Strich
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Daniel, P.M., Strich, S.J. Histological observations on Wallerian degeneration in the spinal cord of the baboon,Papio papio . Acta Neuropathol 12, 314–328 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00809128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00809128

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