RESUMO
In the present electron microscopic study the effect of continuous white noise on the morphology of synapses and neuronal porosome complex (the neurotransmitter-release or secretory machinery) in two subcortical auditory brain regions - colliculus inferior and medial geniculate body in cat, were investigated. Several morphological alterations in some synapses were detected in both subcortical areas. These alterations mainly indicate to the decrease of functional activity of synapses. Rarely important pathological modifications in pre- and post-synaptic regions were detected. In addition to descriptive studies, the morphometric analysis of porosome diameter and depth was performed in colliculus inferior and medial geniculate body. The results revealed that while white noise has no effect on the porosome diameter and depth in colliculus inferior, it provokes significant alterations in the morphology of porosome complex in medial geniculate body. In particular, the significant increase of porosome depth in this nucleus may reflect the alteration in neurotransmission.