Viability of mature superior cervical ganglia transplants in peripheral nerve of adult rat

Sympathetic neurons outlive the original host after transplantation to the rat submandibular gland

Sympathetic ganglion tissue of aged (36 months) Wistar rats was allotransplanted into the submandibular gland (SMG) of young (3 months) animals to study whether sympathetic neurons can outlive the original host. The viability of the transplants was evaluated one year postgrafting, using the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence technique (FIF) for histochemical demonstration of catecholamines, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry, and morphometry. One year after transplantation, grafted superior cervical ganglion (SCG) cells demonstrated catecholamine fluorescence and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. The transplants consisted of groups of sympathetic neurons dispersed in a fibrous matrix. After long postgrafting time, the sympathetic neurons of aged rats showed several signs of enhanced degeneration; increased autofluorescent lipopigment, decreased neuronal density and reduced catecholamine fluorescence. The mean diameter of the transplanted aged neurons was significantly decreased. The histograms of grouped diameter values showed a shift to smaller cells in ganglion transplants. A subpopulation of small and medium-sized grafted neurons sent out fluorescent fibers, which were located in a fibrous scar area but did not extend into submandibular host tissue. The results indicate that a long postgrafting time induced degeneration which is comparable to normal aging changes in grafted very old neurons. Thus, aged sympathetic neurons maintain plasticity to survive as transplants, and under favourable conditions these neurons outlive the original host.

Histochemistry of sympathetic neurons allotransplanted from young and aged mice to the submandibular gland

Sympathetic ganglion tissue of young (3 months) and aged (24 months) NMRI mice was allotransplanted into the submandibular gland to study the influence of aging on the survival of grafted neurons. The submandibular gland (SMG) was chosen as a host tissue because of its high concentration of NGF and good blood supply. Four weeks postgrafting the viability of transplants was evaluated using the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence technique, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry, and morphometry. The density of neurons, catecholamine fluorescence and TH immunoreactivity (TH-IR) appeared to be almost unchanged when the transplant was completely surrounded by the SMG tissue, whereas transplants located within the interlobular septum and capsule, or even outside the capsule, showed significantly reduced neuronal survival. The shape of most of the transplanted neurons was not different from those in the intact ganglia. The average diameter of the transplanted young neurons was significantly decreased; this was not the case with the aged neurons. The histograms of grouped diameter values showed a shift to smaller cells in ganglion transplants in both age groups. The transplants in mice treated with 6-OH-dopamine showed considerable regrowth of adrenergic nerve fibers. There seemed to be no marked difference in the survival of transplanted neurons between aged and young animals. The results indicate that the sympathetic neurons from both young adult and aged animals survive the allotransplantation procedure. The neurotrophic factors together with dense vascularization present in the mouse submandibular gland may be beneficial for the restoration of the integrity of mature and aged adrenergic neurons.

Age pigments in different populations of peripheral neurons in vivo and in vitro

The distribution and ultrastructure of lipopigments in the rat sympathetic, vagus and spinal ganglion neurons were studied in vivo and in vitro using fluorescence and electron microscopy. Newborn, 3-6 mo and 24-30 mo-old male Wistar rats were used. In vivo, the age pigments in the sympathetic neurons showed a tendency to form unipolar or bipolar caps, whereas in the vagus and spinal ganglion neurons pigment granules were packed in the peripheral area of the perikarya during aging. Ultrastructurally, lipid-like vacuoles and a rather homogeneous matrix were the components shared by pigment bodies of all types of peripheral neurons. However, pigment granules in sympathetic neurons frequently had a third, osmiophilic component, which likely represents neuromelanin. In vitro, the cytoplasmic area occupied by autofluorescent pigments was increased in most of the neurons. Some neurons, however, showed the same amount of lipopigments as in vivo. In electron microscopy, age pigment granules typical of each type of neuron were found, and their number and intracellular distribution seemed to be comparable with those in vivo. In most of the neurons cultured from all ages and of all types of ganglion, there appeared to be accumulations of another, very homogeneous and large type of pigment body. In some cases, they were structurally connected with classical pigment bodies or they had a finger print-like substructure. Large homogeneous pigment bodies were also seen in surrounding satellite cells. All these changes were most frequently seen in cultures of spinal ganglia from old animals. It is concluded that although classical age pigments maintain their characteristics in cultured peripheral neurons, there is, in addition, a rapid accumulation of ceroid-like pigments, which may be caused by the inability of the cultured neurons to cope with increased peroxidative damage.