Selective degeneration of chemosensitive primary sensory neurones induced by capsaicin: glial changes

Capsaicin treatment of newborn rats results in the degeneration of primary sensory neurones involved in the mediation of chemogenic pain. In the present study glial changes following the pharmacologically-induced degeneration of unmyelinated primary afferent fibres terminating in Rexed's laminae I and II of the spinal cord were investigated. Light microscopy revealed an increase in the number of phagocytic glial cells in this area, reaching a maximum at 24 h after the administration of capsaicin; they had almost completely disappeared by 72 h. At the ultrastructural level these cells were characterized by their elongate or irregular nuclei with a pronounced heterochromatin pattern, a moderately dense cytoplasmic matrix, hour-glass shaped mitochondria and very large numbers of heterogeneous dense bodies and lipid droplets. On the basis of these observations, these cells were considered to represent reactive microglial cells engaged in the phagocytosis of degenerated neuronal debris. The possible origin and mode of elimination of these elements from the central nervous tissue is briefly discussed.