痙攣脳の電顕的研究—第1報 電撃痙攣家鶏雛の大脳皮質神経細胞像

Electron-microscopic Study of the Brain in Convulsions: Part 1. Cerebral Cortex of Chicken subjected to Convulsions by means of Electric Stimuli

緒言

　実験的に痙攣を惹起した動物脳の組織病理学的研究は，すでに20世紀前半に多くの研究者によつて行なわれ，以来その中枢神経系の変化は従来の方法によつてほぼ観察報告しつくされた観がある。その狙いとするところは一に，人間のてんかん現象の組織病理学的な解明に資さんとするものであつたことは否めない。しかし痙攣を含むてんかん現象の研究分野が進展すると共に，近年とみに盛んとなつた神経生理学や神経化学の研究がどかく主体を占め始め，神経病理学の分野では特に新らしい知見が見当らないのが現状のようである。これは或る意味では，古く前世紀において，Nissl, Alzheimerらによつて開花した中枢神経の組織学的研究方法の限界を暗示するものと考えることもできるであろう。もつともてんかん脳の組織学に新らしい知見がさしてもたらされていないとはいうものの，epileptic focusのripenningを中心とするPenfield^22）の研究など，新らしい想定に基づく組織学的研究は，てんかん現象の病因の解明に有力な成果をもたらしていることも事実であろう。

In order to pursue after the mechanism ofepileptic or convulsive phenomena, we havebeen engaged in the histological study bymeans of electron microscope since last years.

In this first report, the results from 57chickens, among which 18 were subjected tocons ulsions induced by application of 10 timesof electric stimuli, are mentioned.

The main findings obtained are summarisedas follows: 1) Decrease of the nuclear density, depen-ding on decrease and/or aggregation of intr-anuclear chromatin granules. 2) Widening ofthe nuclear pore until such a range as 1500-5000Å. 3) Corrugation of the nuclear memb-rane, especially a significant projection ofthe external membrane into the cytoplasm.4) Increase or decrease of the electron densityin the rough surfaced variety of endoplasmicreticulum, depending on increase and/ordecrease of RNA granules. 5) Disarrange-ment or disappearance of the structure ofthe rough surfaced variety of endoplasmicreticulum. 6) Widening of the rough surfacedvariety of endoplasmic reticulum to the rangeof 3000-5050Å. 7) Loss of clearness of themitochondrial membrane, crumbling or disap-pearance of the cristae mitochondriae, andvariety of the density of the mitochondrialmatrix.

However, all above-mentioned findings,the authors think, might not he specific tothe changes due to electric convulsion, asfar as the references published until todaywere reviewed. In spite of such findings, wetook into consideration about the function ofthe RNA granule and the mitochondria,and, from the pathophysiological standpointof view, supposed that these findings obta-ined by the authors might indicate the resul-ts of the metabolic disturbances and the rec-overy from them which would take place innerve cells.