[The state of the neural elements of the intestine in the aging organism].

The small intestine of the ageing human (15 cases from 70 to 88 years of age) and dogs (20 cases from 15 to 20 years of age) was treated by histological and neuro-histological methods. Vacuolic dystrophy of neurons and hyperplasia, thickening of their processes were found. Different formations up to 15 in number and from 20 to 60 mkm in size were revealed in the dog small intestine wall along the course of the nerve fibre. They were of pear-like, oval or round shape. Inside these formations sometimes there occur disfibration of neurofibrilles resulting in formation of structures which resemble incapsulated sensory apparatus. In the human small intestine the bodies and processes of neurons suffer most of all, while in the dog the nerve conductors do.