Quantitative study on the fetal cervical dorsal root ganglion and observations on its relationship with the spinal nerve complex in the albino mouse.

Abstract

In mouse fetuses aged 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 days, the cervical dorsal root ganglion was studied quantitatively. The main growth in volume of the interneuroblastic spaces was between the 12th and 16th day of pre-natal life while the main increase in volume of its neuroblasts occurred in the subsequent 4 days. Thus, it was postulated that the growth and branching of the neuroblastic dendrites, growth of the neuroglial elements and the vascular ramifications inside the ganglion occurred mainly between the 12th and 16th day of pre-natal life. Different modalities in the spatial relationship between the dorsal root ganglion and the different components of the spinal nerve were met with. At times, the trunk of the spinal nerve was located inside the ganglion. At that site, the posterior primary ramus emerged from it and appeared as a branch of the ganglion. The ventral root sometimes passed close to the fibrous capsule of the ganglion. In other cases, it passed inside the ganglion, dividing the ganglionic neuroblasts into dorsal and ventral groups. These either remained ensheathed by one fibrous capsule or became divided into two separate masses that remained connected to each other by the fibrous dural sheath.