[Dynamics of changes in the ultrastructure of hypothalamic nerve cells in acute morphine poisoning]

Abstract

In order to study the dynamics of submicroscopical changes in the paraventricular and supraoptical nuclei of the hypothalamus the authors studied with the aid of electron microscopic methods 12 white rats of the Wistar line. Such studies were performed in different periods after acute intoxication by middle toxic doses of morphine. Following 30 min after the injection the nervous cells demonstrated moderately expressed ultrastructural changes of a chromatolytical type. Chromatolysis after 60 min was increased and it was accompanied by focal destruction of the cytoplasma. After 48 hours following acute intoxication the changes of the nervous cells were characterized by a prevalent increase of the granular components, that formed the picture of a functional hyperchromatosis. These changes indicate to a tendency to rehabilitation of damaged structures.