Sequential Histological Changes in Tissued Surrounding Experimental Intracerebral Hematoma (II) : Electron Microscopic Studies

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to investigate the sequential histological changes in the tissue surrounding intracerebral hematoma, and experimental model of intracerebral hematoma was made by an injection of 0.7ml of autologous whole blood, with the stereotaxic frame, into the right basal ganglia of the anesthetized adult rabbit. The total of 33 adult rabbits weighing 2.5 to 3.5kg were divided into 7 groups and sacrificed in 0.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours, and 1 and 3 days after the formation of intracerebral hematomas. The sequential electron microscopical changes in the brain tissue surrounding hematoma were observed. The results obtained were as follows. 1) Degeneration of axon and glial cell were observed. 2) Degeneration of glial cell began to appear in 3 hours and was aggravated in 12 hours, and glial cell necrosis occurred in 1 day. Degeneration of axon began to appear in 6 hours and was aggravated in 12 hours to 1 day, and phagocytosis of degenerating axon was observed in 3 days. 3) This experimental data suggested that the removal of intracerebral hematoma might be carried out as quickly as possible, and must be done within 12 hours whenever possible.