Abstract
Lipofuscin deposition in nerve cells is one of the most reliable and consistent neurocytological features correlated with ageing. Purkinje cells of long-term alcohol-fed rats show large agglomerates of lipofuscin granules after six months of alcohol experiment, whereas in normal biological ageing, this happens only after 25 months of age. Cerebellar interneurons have specific patterns of lipofuscin accumulation during ageing concerning both its morphological type and chronology of deposition. We studied the effects of chronic alcohol treatment on cerebellar interneurons taking particular account of lipofuscin pigment accumulation. Control and alcohol-fed groups for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months were used. A precocious and progressive accumulation of lipofuscin granules occurred in granule, Golgi and basket cells. Stellate cells remained pigment-free. The lipofuscin deposited in the granule and Golgi cells was of the granular type, whereas that of basket and stellate cells was lamellar (fingerprint-like pattern). These results parallel those observed during normal ageing, and reinforce the hypothesis of the existence of a close relationship between chronic alcohol consumption and precocious nerve cell ageing.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
