On the changes of Holmes positive intracytoplasmic bodies in the mouse locus coeruleus

The intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were found to be intensely stained in the normal nerve cells by the modified Holmes method (Katoh and Shimizu, 1982b). In the present study we used ddY mouse under normal and experimental conditions and stained locus coeruleus region, where the inclusion bodies are remarkably rich in number. The inclusion bodies stained by Holmes method were round in shape and 1-3μm in size and were present singly or 2 in one cell. Total number of these bodies amounted to 1569±166 in the unilateral locus coeruleus in both sexes. Experimental conditions, such as dehydration for 3-6 days, fasting for 3-6 days, dehydration plus fasting for 3-6 days and reserpine (5 mg/kg) administration markedly decreased the number of the bodies. However, castration (10 to 30 days after operation) and vasopressin (2 IU each for 13 days) produced no changes. Nialamide (300 mg/kg each for 3 days) caused slight increase. In the ontogenetic development the bodies already appeared in the late fetal life.