What is a common result of Encephalitis in terms of nerve cell structure?

Encephalitis, which refers to inflammation of the brain usually caused by an infection or autoimmune response, often leads to the progressive degeneration of nerve cell bodies. This degeneration is primarily due to the immune response elicited by encephalitis, which can cause direct damage to neurons. Inflammatory processes can lead to cell death, disrupting the normal functioning of nerve cells and potentially leading to neurological deficits.

The other options do not accurately reflect the typical pathophysiological changes associated with encephalitis. Hyperplasia of glial cells, while it may occur in response to injury, is not specific or commonly noted in encephalitis compared to nerve cell degeneration. The formation of tumors in the brain is not a direct consequence of encephalitis; rather, it is a separate pathological process often linked to long-standing inflammation or other risk factors. Overproduction of neurotransmitters is also not a characteristic feature of encephalitis, where neuronal damage and inflammation typically lead to altered neurotransmitter signaling rather than an increase in production.