Mitochondrial dehydrogenases during senescence of the cerebellar cortex. A comparative electron microscope study
Toledano, A.; Barca, M.A.; Moradillo, I.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 34(2): 175-189
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-5680 PMID: 3378246 Document Number: 308780
Biochemical and histochemical electron microscopic investigations on the variations of corticocerebellar SD, GD, NADH-D, and MD enzymatic activities during senescence, have been carried out. A biochemical decrease of dehydrogenases values has been observed. Histochemically, results demonstrate a variable decrease at neuronal and glial levels. Each neuronal type has presented a characteristic involution, and the model of involution of the cerebellar cortex could be the sum of all involutive models specific for each cell. We have observed: a) the existence of differences among the neuronal types; b) the existence of differences among neurons of the same type; c) differences in each enzymatic activity in mitochondria of the same cytoplasmic regions; d) a partial lack of correlation between biochemical and histochemical results; e) a partial lack of correlation between mitochondrial activities and morphological alterations; f) independence among the involutive activity decreases of several mitochondrial dehydrogenases; g) a marked contrast between the glial and neuronal reactions; and h) the existence of neuronal reactions with a high number of very active mitochondria. Results related to the NS function are discussed.