[Populations of afferent neurons in the sensory ganglia detected using lectin from Laburnum anagyroides].

The purpose of the present research was the study of afferent neuron subpopulations in vagal caudal ganglia and trigeminal ganglion of adult albino rats using a conjugate of fucose-specific Laburnum anagyroides lectin (LAL) with peroxidase. Histochemical preparations obtained were examined using computer videoanalyzer with the determination of dimensions of afferent neurons and integral optical density (IOD) of their cytoplasm. In the ganglia studied LAL was found to bind to the majority (more than 98%) of neurons. Reaction product was demonstrated in the perikaryon either as discrete granules (Nissl body-type), or as a uniform precipitate. Nucleoplasm in most of neurons remained lightly stained. Determination of IOD of neuronal cytoplasm in various ganglia demonstrated significant differences in degree of LAL accumulation. Analysis of interrelation between neuronal size and IOD permitted to establish non-linear correlation of metric and optical parameters and to detect subpopulations of cells in the sensory ganglia, which were stained with LAL most intensely. Functional specialization of these cells remains to be determined. Thus, a combined application of lectin-histochemical method with a computer videoanalysis of morphological slides enabled the identification neuronal populations and subpopulations in rat afferent ganglia, which are not demonstrated with the standard histological methods.