Cytochemical investigations of proteins and RNA in spinal motoneurons and neurons of spinal ganglia of the rat after space flight.

Abstract

The content of RNA and cytoplasmic protein was assayed by methods of quantitative cytochemistry in motoneurons of anterior horns of the spinal cord and neurons of spinal ganglia of rats flown for 22 d. It was shown that the 22-d space flight did not change the RNA content in motoneurons of anterior horns of the spinal cord and reduced the RNA content in large neurons of spinal ganglia. The protein content in the cytoplasm of motoneurons and neurons of spinal ganglia was significantly lowered as compared with the control. The RNA content 27 d postflight in motoneurons of anterior horns of the spinal cord was significantly reduced and in neurons of spinal ganglia it did not differ from the control. On the 27th postflight day the protein content in the cytoplasm of motoneurons returned to the preflight level and in the cytoplasm of large neurons of spinal ganglia remained lowered.