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An electron microscopic investigation of glycogen and mitochondria in developing and adult rat spinal motor neuropil

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

The number of glycogen particles contained in synaptic boutons and the relative bouton volume occupied by mitochondrial profiles have been determined for the spinal motor neuropil (C6 spinal cord segment) of perinatal and adult rats. This study shows that the bouton glycogen content is much greater in perinatal specimens than in adult specimens. Conversely, the mitochondrial volume fraction of boutons progressively increases during development to reach its peak in adult specimens. These data appear to be in good agreement with the evidence of biochemical studies which show that aerobic metabolic pathways are progressively added to anaerobic mechanisms during the ontogeny of the C.N.S. In addition, the developmental period when boutons (as well as other parts of neurons) contain numerous glycogen particles corresponds to the time when the animals can survive relatively long periods of anoxia or ischemia. This relationship is discussed and it is suggested that aneuronal deposition of glycogen in perinatal animals — in contrast to the adult situation of anastrocytic one — may be an important factor in the greater resistance of perinatal mammals to anoxia and ischemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosciences, City of Hope National Medical Center, 91010, Duarte, California

    James E. Vaughn & Judith A. Grieshaber

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  1. James E. Vaughn
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  2. Judith A. Grieshaber
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Vaughn, J.E., Grieshaber, J.A. An electron microscopic investigation of glycogen and mitochondria in developing and adult rat spinal motor neuropil. J Neurocytol 1, 397–412 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102942

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102942

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