The relation between free and membrane-bound ribosomes in light dorsal root ganglia neurons after aortic ligature in dogs.

To study the relation between free and membrane-bound ribosomes after repeated aortic ligature we examined light dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons by quantitative electron microscopy. For counting ribosomes we applied two methods--the hit method and the total counting of ribosomes on electronograms. By both methods we found that there was a prevalence of free ribosomes in DRG neurons on the first and second postoperative day this relation was significantly shifted in favour of free ribosomes which was in agreement with our morphological findings characterized by disaggregation of polysomes and an increasing number of membrane-free ribosomes. At the advanced period of survival (6 days) the studied relation no longer differed from control values. These findings indicate that reorganized proteosynthesis in light DRG neurons plays a most important role during recovery after ischemic insult.