[Morphologic characteristics of locus coeruleus neurons after selective chemical damage to the catecholaminergic system of the brain]

The initial part of the noradrenergic cerebral system--the locus caeruleus neurons--has been studied light and electron microscopically at various time after injection of 6- hydrodopamine (6-OHDA), a substance possessing a selective neurotoxic effect on the catecholaminergic mediatory system. Intracisternal injection of 6-OHDA (300 mcg) produces a number of reactive rearrangements in the neurons and large dendrites. Nevertheless, the death of the neural cells is not observed even by the 36th day.