[Ultrastructural changes in the neurons of the sensorimotor cortex in rats under prolonged hypokinesia]

The authors studied the neuronal ultrastructure of the sensorimotor cortex of rats exposed to 90 days of hypokinesia and at different times after its withdrawal. During prolonged restriction of motor activity, dystrophic changes seen in the cortical neurons were most demonstrable. During the first week of the posthypokinetic period, the degree of dystrophic lesions was reduced and the signs of intracellular regeneration were fairly conspicuous. Three weeks after hypokinesia withdrawal the ultrastructure of most neurons returned to normal, with the structure abnormalities being still observed in individual cells.