Morphologische Veränderungen im Ganglion ciliare bei Gesunden und Glaukomkranken

Abstract

The authors studied morphological changes in eleven ciliary ganglions. Seven ganglions were obtained from four corpses of patients with primary glaucoma in different stages, and four control ganglions were obtained from corpses of healthy people. The ciliary ganglion neurons of healthy subjects demonstrated age-related changes revealing nucleus shift toward the periphery, atypical hairy Kahal neurons, nerve fiber irritation phenomena, and other effects. The stage-dependent changes observed included: devastation areas, reactive proliteration around prolapsed neurons, nerve fiber degeneration, and hemorrhages. Maturing glaucomatous nerve cells and fiber degeneration also grew in proportion. In absolute glaucoma, ganglion cells were not present in ganglions. The authors believe that the existence of age-dependent structural changes in ciliary ganglia shows that ciliary ganglia are responsible for neurotropic innervation of eye membranes and participate in the glaucomatous process.