[Satellite cells of the sensory neurons after different types of sciatic nerve trauma in rat]

Abstract

The reaction of satellite cells (SC) and the changes in their numbers were studied in rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia using the models of sciatic nerve crush, transection and ligation. After the nerve transection, the neurons surrounded by two layers of SC were found. This was accompanied by the increased SC branch thickness and contact area due to invaginations into neuronal perikarya. After the nerve ligation, both SC and their branches were found to form several closely adjacent layers around the part of the large and medium neurons, the area of SC contact with the perikarya of neurons of these populations was increased due to more developed invaginations, there appeared the multilamellar structures in SC cytoplasm and the contacts with the branches of SC, which surrounded the neighboring neurons. The most pronounced increase in SC numbers was demonstrated after the nerve ligation. After the nerve transection, the numbers of small and medium neurons, surrounded by vimentin-positive SC, was increased. At the same time, the number of large neurons surrounded by these cells, was decreased. At all time intervals after the nerve ligation, all the neurons in the ganglia studied were surrounded by vimentin-positive SC. Post-traumatic changes in structure and numbers were different in SC, associated with specific populations of sensory neurons and depended on type of afferent conductor injury.