[The structure of the stellate sympathetic ganglia under long-term hypoxia]

Changes of mitochondrial ultrastructure indicating not only degenerative processes but also the presence of organelle adaptive reactions were demonstrated in sympathetic neurons. Appearance of osmiophilic inclusions in mitochondrial matrix relates to most typical organelle alterations in ageing. Number of smooth endoplasmic reticulum vesicles equal in size to synaptic vesicles of nerve cells processes grows higher. Such vesicles are usually located near postsynaptic active zones and areas with neuronal plasmolemma free from glia. Their outward resemblance does not allow to claim that neuromediators and neuromodulators may turn up in these vesicles, although dendrites contain and may release certain biologically active substances. Basic difference between 24 and 30-months old rats lies in earlier degenerations of nerve cells in old animals. Forming of dark granules may be also associated with conditions of fixation. Small granular (SG) cells lacked typical lipofuscine granules, while their ultrastructure changed insignificantly. SG cells capacity to divide mitotically in functional maturity is likely to be one of the possible explanations of such difference.