Investigation of structural changes in the spinal nerve roots post intrathecal ketamine application at the levels of light and electron microscopy

Investigation of Structural Changes in the Spinal Nerve Roots Post Intrathecal Ketamine Application at the Levels of Light and Electron Microscopy In this study, 30 minutes, 1.5 and 24 hours after intrathecal ketamine injection, the differences in the spinal nerve roots have been examined in the light and electron microscope. The tissue samples, fixed with first 2% glutaraldehyde in 1/15 M phosphate buffer and later 1% OsO4 in 1/15 M phosphate buffer. Following dehydration, with ethyl alcohol series the thick and the thin sections were taken from the tissue samples embedded in Araldite and examined in the light and electron microscope. In the light microscopic examination, the groups which intrathecal ketamine had been given, in the myelin sheet of the myelinated nerve fibers, some dehydration types and cystic structures were observed. In the control group of the ultrastructural sections, myelin lamels, mitochondria and neurofilaments were obvious in the transverse sections. The Schwann cell nucleus and nucleolus, inner and outer mesaxons were distinguished. After intrathecal injection of ketamine, there was a clear degeneration in the myelin lamels of the myelinated nerve fibers. Fading on the myelin lamels, dark and light parts, a clear cut separation of the cystic parts and shrinking and vacuolization in the axoplasm were observed. The vacuolization in the axoplasm was observed. The vacuolization and lack of organelles in the cell cytoplasm were clear. The degeneration of the large myelinated nerve fibers being more rapid than unmyelinated fibers were observed.