Quantitative study of neuronal degeneration induced by Ricinus toxin and crush of postganglionic nerves in the ciliary ganglion of quail.

The effects of Ricinus toxin on the neurons of the ciliary ganglia were investigated in the quail. The neuronal death and the morphological alterations of the ganglionic cells were assessed following injection of the toxin in the anterior chamber of the eye or after application of the toxin on the postganglionic nerves at a crush site. A 45% loss of choroid neurons without loss of ciliary neurons was observed after postganglionic nerve crush alone. Injection of the toxin in the anterior chamber of the eye led to a selective loss of ciliary neurons (38%). Application of the toxin to the crushed postganglionic nerves led to a loss from both neuronal populations (40% of total neurons). This work indicates that different procedures result in selective lesion of the different neuronal populations in the ciliary ganglion.