Quantitative and electron microscopic studies of sensory ganglion cells of the Sprawling mouse

Abstract

The L4–6 sensory root ganglia of young and adult Sprawling (Swl) and normal mice were studied. Cell counts showed a great reduction in the total number of ganglion cells inSwl. Cell degeneration was observed in youngSwl animals but not in normal littermates. Most of the remaining ganglion cells showed morphological abnormalities very similar to those seen in chromatolytic neurons — enlarged nucleolus, eccentric nucleus with an infolded nuclear membrane, loss of juxtanuclear Nissl bodies and an increase in neurofilaments, Golgi membranes, autophagic vacuoles, and dense bodies. In contrast to the classical changes of chromatolysis the abnormalities inSwl neurons persisted throughout the lifespan of the animal. Reconstructions from serial sections showed that ganglion cells inSwl were highly irregular in shape.