Acrylamide-induced remodelling of perikarya in rat superior cervical ganglia.

To extend investigations on how acrylamide affects neuronal perikarya, we studied post-ganglionic cell bodies in the superior cervical ganglia of control and intoxicated rats (50 mg/kg/day for 9-10 days) with light and electron microscopy and with stereology. By light microscopy, perikarya of intoxicated rats showed peripheral Nissl bodies and nuclear eccentricity. Ultrastructurally, many experimental neurons showed augmented Nissl bodies, often extending from nucleus to plasma membrane; cisternae of granula endoplasmic bodies often appeared in orderly stacked configurations. Intoxicated neurons had increased numbers of normal-appearing mitochondria; some mitochondrial profiles appeared in clumps and others were hypertrophied. Compared to control neurons where Golgi complex most often aligned in a circumnuclear position, experimentals showed reductions in amount and loss of orientation. In some perikarya the pattern of eccentricity of nucleus, peripheral mantle of Nissl, and increased mitochondria gave a distinctive chromatolysis-like appearance. Ultrastructural stereologic analysis showed significantly increased volume fractions of Nissl (P less than 0.001) and mitochondria (P less than 0.002), a trend towards decreased Golgi, and no change in lysosomes, confirming the ultrastructural findings. These data indicate that cell body remodelling is a widespread phenomenon, specific for different neuronal types, and that it probably acts importantly in the pathogenesis of disease.