Morphology of lipofuscin in the rat spiral ganglion after ischemia

Present study shows lipofuscin accumulation and morphological characteristi cs of the pigment granules in the rat spiral ganglion after 30 min global b rain ischemia with subsequent 3 day survival. Electron microscopic examinat ion of the spiral ganglion showed sporadic presence of lipofuscin granules in neurons and its occasional occurrence in the satellite cells in normal a dult animals. Progressive accumulation of lipofuscin in type I neurons 3 da ys postischemia was noticed. Four different types of lipofusin granules hav e been described, ranging from small, round and homogeneously dark bodies c ontaining clear lipid-like vacuoles, to the complicated structures with num ber of vacuoles and "fingerprint" patterns. Pigment bodies were also seen i n the surrounding satellite cells. Morphological analysis of lipofuscin acc umulation in the postischemic period revealed a higher incidence of ceroid- like granules, which seems to be related to the peroxidative membrane damag e due to ischemia.