The disintegration of the granules of chromophil substance (Nissl bodies) in a nerve cell body that may occur after exhaustion of the cell or damage to its peripheral process; other changes considered part of c. include swelling of the perikaryon and shifting of the nucleus from its central position to the periphery. SYN: chromatinolysis, chromolysis, tigrolysis. [chromato- + G. lysis, dissolution]
- retrograde c. SYN: central c..
- transsynaptic c. SYN: transsynaptic degeneration.
* * *
chro·ma·tol·y·sis .krō-mə-'täl-ə-səs n, pl -y·ses -.sēz the dissolution and breaking up of chromophil material (as chromatin) of a cell and esp. a neuron
chro·mato·lyt·ic krō-.mat-əl-'it-ik, krə- adj
* * *
n.
the dispersal or disintegration of the microscopic structures within the nerve cells that normally produce proteins. It is part of the cell's response to injury.
* * *
chro·ma·tol·y·sis (kro″mə-tolґə-sis) [chromato- + -lysis] disintegration of the Nissl (chromophil) bodies of a nerve cell as the result of injury, or of fatigue or exhaustion; a part of the axon reaction (q.v.).Medical dictionary. 2011.