[Analysis of glioneuronal interrelationships after ultrasound exposure]

By means of quantitative cytochemical methods, changes in contents of protein amino groups on neurons and their surrounding glia have been studied in the rabbit midbrain tectum colliculi and in the cerebral visual cortex after a single and successive stimulation of the animal's eyes with impulsive ultrasound (880 kHz) at various intensity (0.2, 0.4-0.6, 1.0 and 2.0 W/cm2) and exposition for 5 min. The number of mantle gliocytes has been counted. It has been stated that certain metabolic manifestations in the glia overtake considerably (on an average 4-12 h) those in the neurons, and at the ultrasound intensity as great as 0.2 W/cm2 they are registered exclusively in the mantle gliocytes. It is probable that cells of the perineuronal glia, being an intermediate link between the neurons and capillaries, react selectively by changing their protein contents and, thus, perform a leading role in the reaction of the visual analyser to ultrasound stimulations. The ultrasound effect of therapeutic intensity or nearly so, while affecting metabolism of the neurons and neuroglia, does not change their interactions. It is possible that a prolonged active functional state of the neurons is not always ensured by increasing number of their satellite-cells but is realized by some other mechanisms.