The effect of cervical sympathetic ganglia extirpation on the growth of rats during postnatal ontogenesis]

Bilateral extirpation of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia carried out during the first month after the birth of ratlings caused a delay in growth by 40-60%. Section of pre-ganglionic sympathetic fibers and also sham operations failed to lead to any significant changes. Normal growth and skeletal development were disturbed in gangliectomized rats: the zone of growth of the proximal end of the tibia was much narrower in the operated animals than in the intact ones and there was a delay in the spread of secondary ossification centres.