The histomorphometric characteristics of ganglionary neuron populations in the long-term period after canine neurotomy and restorative surgery

Neurotomy of the sciatic nerve at the level of the femoral middle third and primary microsurgical neurorrhaphy were performed in 2 adult mongrel dogs. The neurons of their ganglia L5, L6, L7 were studied 12 months after surgery in comparison with the similar data of 4 non-operated dogs using the methods of light microscopy and computer morphometry. The study resulted in perfecting the technique of neurons A and B typing in cryostat sections, verifying the light-and-optical qualitative characteristics of A1 and A2 subtypes, determining the size ranges of the types of ganglionary neurons and obtaining the data about the ratio of A and B types in the spinal ganglia of intact dogs. As for the animals operated on, in their population of A-neurons the mean diameters of nucleus and nucleolus were 4% and 2% less (respectively) than those of intact animals, however, the mean area of perikaryons was 19% less (statistically reliably). In B population the mean area of perikaryons was reliably but slightly (10%) less and the mean diameters of nucleus and nucleolus were 8% less (p