Abstract: | The effects of colchicine and lumicolchicine on the ultrastructure of non-myelinated axons in cat autonomic nerves were studied using in vitro preparations of inferior mesenteric ganglion/hypogastric nerves. After 24 hrs of in vitro incubation with colchicine added to the medium (10 microng/ml) a significant decrease in number of neurotubules per 1 axon was observed. In the presence of a solution of alpha-beta and gamma-lumicolchicine (10 microng/ml) severe degenerative changes occured in axons and Schwann cells. At a lower dose of lumicolchicine (3 microng/ml) these changes were less frequent and the number of neurotubules per 1 axon did not differ from that in control nerves. |