[Structural and metabolic changes in the limbic cortex of the rabbit in response to experimentation with the...

By means of the light and electron microscopy, histochemical and cytophotometrical methods the anterior subarea of the cerebral limbic cortex has been studied in 30 experimental and 30 control rabbits. The experimental animals have been given 3, 15 and 30 sessions (1 h per day) of electric irritation (0.05 mA, 50 Hz, 1 msec) on the posterior hypothalamic field (PHF). Twelve rabbits from 30 control animals make an intact group and 18--a group with inactive electrodes inserted into the PHF. After 3 and especially after 15 sessions it has been revealed: in neurons--an acute swelling, edematous alterations, hyperchromatosis and shrinkage, changes in lactate dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase, nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-diaphorase and nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-phosphate-diaphorase activities, in neuroglia--hypertrophy and weakly manifested hyperplasia. After 30 sessions synapses degenerated after the dark type are revealed. More intensive structural and metabolic changes are noted in the middle cytoarchitectonical complex. The changes of the enzymatic activity are considered as certain signs of weakening mitochondrial processes, connected with energy production, increasing glycolysis, decreasing level of the energetic provision of the cytoplasmic synthesis, arising under conditions of a disturbed transneuronal influence on the cortex by the hypothalamus.