A STUDY OF THE SENSITIVITY OF NEURONS TO TRAUMA IN THE RAT WITH A COMPARISON OF METHODS1

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Abstract
Following massive ablation of the cerebral cortex in the rat, the axons and parts of the myelin sheaths of the pyramidal tract neurons begin to show overt degenerative changes between the 4th and 5th postoperative days by the silver, acid phosphatase and Marchi methods. Weigert and osmic acid methods show a more slow and chronic breakdown. By the protargol method, some axons persist in the pyramidal tract field. The speed of metabolism of an animal does not seem to be the only factor responsible for the rate of degeneration of the pyramidal neurons. There are many phylo-genetic differences in the response of pyramidal neurons to maximal trauma. The onset of axonal breakdown begins at 5 days in the rat, 3 in the cat, 7 in the monkey, and about 10 in man following cortical ablations.