Patterns of lipofuscin accumulation in ganglionic nerve cells of superior cervical ganglion in humans

Abstract

Considering available literature lipofuscin is a classical age pigment of postmitotic cells, and a consistently recognized phenomenon in humans and animals. Lipofuscin accumulation is characteristic for nerve cells that are postmitotic. This research was focused on lipofuscin accumulation in ganglionic cells (GC) (postganglionic sympathetic cell bodies) of superior cervical ganglion in humans during ageing. We analysed 30 ganglions from cadavers ranging from 20 to over 80 years of age. As material the tissue samples were used from the middle portion of the ganglion, which was separated from the surrounding tissue by the method of macrodissection. The tissue samples were routinely fixed in 10% neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin for classical histological analysis, then three consecutive (successive) sections 5 microm thick were made and stained with hematoxylin and eosin method (HE), silver impregnation technique by Masson Fontana and trichrome stain by Florantin. Immersion microscopy was used to analyse patterns of lipofuscin accumulation during ageing making possible to distinguish diffuse type (lipofuscin granules were irregularly distributed and non-confluent), unipolar type (lipofuscin granules were grouped at the end of the cell), bipolar type (lipofuscin granules were concentrated at the two opposite ends of a cell with the nucleus in between at the center of a cell), annular type (lipofuscin granules were in the shape of a complete or incomplete ring around the nucleus) and a cell completely filled with lipofuscin (two subtypes distinguishing, one with visible a nucleus, and the other with invisible one). Even at the age of 20 there were cells with lipofuscin granules accumulated in diffuse way, but in smaller numbers; the GC without lipofuscin were dominant. Growing older, especially above 60 years, all of the above mentioned patterns of lipofuscin accumulation were present with the evident increase in cells completely filled with lipofuscin, but cells without lipofuscin were also present even in the oldest persons. Lipofuscin is present in all periods of ageing with a different intensity of accumulation. GC without the pigment, diffusely distributed, as well as very rare cells with a unipolar type of lipofuscin distribution are characteristic for the age of 20-60 years. In the age above 60 years, except the cells without pigment and diffuse accumulation type, there are also bipolar and annular types and forms in which cells are completely filled with lipofuscin granules.