Some quantitative observations upon the responses of neuroglial cells which follow axotomy of adjacent neurones

1. The dry mass and nucleic acid content of freshly isolated neuroglial cells and of their nucleoli were measured by interference microscopy and ultraviolet absorption microspectrography. The incorporation of tritiated nucleosides and of an amino acid was followed autoradiographically.2. After hypoglossal axotomy in the adult rat hypertrophy of astrocytes of the hypoglossal nucleus occurred in a biphasic manner. The first phase lasted from days 1-10 and was accompanied by a small degree of astrocytic hyperplasia, and the second from days 20-80. Hypertrophy of oligodendrocytes accompanied the second phase of the astrocytic response.3. When severed axons failed to reinnervate denervated muscle, the second phase of the astrocytic response was markedly reduced and the hypertrophy of oligodendrocytes did not occur.4. If the severed axons re-innervated denervated muscle after a controlled delay, the second phase of the astrocytic response and the oligodendroglial hypertrophy was also delayed.5. Injection of botulinum toxin into the tongue caused changes in astrocytes and oligondendrocytes closely resembling those found after axotomy.6. Transient astrocytic hypertrophy occurred in the uninjured right hypoglossal nucleus, and had a different time course to the changes occurring on the injured side.7. The results are discussed in relation to changes in the metabolism and to alterations in the dendritic fields of injured neurones, previously measured in these circumstances.