ISSN:
1432-0533
Keywords:
Alcohol
;
Polyneuropathy
;
Rat peripheral nerve
;
Electron microscopy
;
Cholinesterases
;
Electrophysiology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Peripheral nerves and myoneural junctions of the tibialis anterior muscle of the rat were studied histologically and electrophysiologically after various periods of peroral ethanol treatment. Histochemical distributions of non-specific cholinesterase (ns. ChE; E.C. 3.1.1.8) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE; E.C. 3.1.1.7) activity of the muscle were normal during the first 3 months of daily ethanol drinking. After 5 months of exposure to 10–25% (v/v) ethanol as the sole drinking fluid, pathological ns. ChE activity was seen sporadically along the intramuscular nerves with slight ultrastructural changes in the Schwann cells. After 7 months of ethanol treatment there was further increased pathological ns. ChE activity in the intramuscular nerves while the AChE activity remained normal in the muscle. More prominent ultrastructural changes were seen in the Schwann cells namely swelling and vacuolization of the cytoplasm and dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Increased numbers of small axons were also seen. After 9.5 months on alcohol marked increase in the ns. ChE activity was observed along most of the intramuscular nerves. AChE activity of the myoneural junctions was only sporadically weakened. A slight slow-down in the conduction velocity of the large myelinated size A fibers was observed in the animals on alcohol from 7–9.5 months, whereas the conduction velocity of the smaller myelinated B fibers was not appreciably changed. The present experiment indicates that progressive neuropathy can be induced in rats by oral alcohol feeding along with the normal laboratory diet. The first pathological changes were seen in the Schwann cells and could well be followed by the methods employed. The present experimental model can possibly be used in future studies concerning the development of toxic polyneuropathy.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00689764
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