Electron microscopic studies of the brain edema after local brain injury in animals with changed immunological reactivity

Abstract

It is well established at present that the course of pathological processes in local brain trauma depends on immunological reactivity of the organism and to a great extent on its sensitization to brain antigens.This study was undertaken to clarify the early ultrastructural changes of the nervous tissue in perifocal area of local brain wound in normal rabbits, those sensitized to brain antigens or desensitized by brain antigens after preliminary sensitization. In addition, the influence of sensitization and desensitization per se on brain tissue ultrastructure was studied. The animals were sensitized and desensitized with intravenous and intraperitoneal 20% water-salt extract of homologous brain tissue. The immunological state of the animals was checked by using the complement fixation test. The fixation of antibrain antibodies in perifocal area of the wound was studied by the direct Coons immunofluorescence method.