Exaggerated Discharge of Neurosomes into Spastic Muscle by Heat Reflex.

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Abstract
One hundred chameleons (Anolis caroliniensis) were divided into 50 controls and 50 in the exptl. group. Of the 50 controls 10 were decapitated and 40 were pithed in caudal one-half of the spinal cord. The biceps femoris muscles were excised from the 10 decapitated control animals and subjected to various histo-logic techniques, especially the Au method. The 40 control animals whose spinal cords were pithed and the 50 animals with their spinal cords intact had the caudal 1/2 of each animal immersed in water at 70[degree] C for 1 sec. After various time intervals, the biceps femoris muscles were excised and subjected to the Au and other histologic techniques. The sequence of the morphologic effects of the reflex action of heat applied to the skin upon the motor end plates were the following: (1) increased capacity of the end plates for gold to the point of complete lack of definition between the terminal axons and their transformation into the granules of Kuhne; exaggerated discharge of neurosomes or Au-impregnated bodies from the motor end plates into the myoplasm of the skeletal muscle fibers; and progressive depletion to the level of complete structural exhaustion of the terminal axons of their substances with an affinity for Au. The reflex effects of heat applied to the skin are associated with an exaggerated discharge of ephemeral, pleo-morphic, and lipoidal neurosomes from the motor end plates into spastic or cramp-like muscle. The neurosomes have a variable affinity for gold, silver, and lipoidal stains.