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Electron microscope study of the rat brain with experimental sodium azide intoxication

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Summary

Histotoxic hypoxia was experimentally produced in the rat brain by sodium azide intoxication. In spite of the absence of light microscopic alterations, electron micrographs showed the early changes in the cerebral cortex and subcortex which consisted of widening of the intercellular space and swelling of the pericapillary astrocytic end-feet. However, ferritin-albumin mixture, used for the tracer of protein transport, did not show any increase in the capillary permeability. Sodium azide was considered to disturb the water metabolism, producing osmotic unbalance in the brain.

Zusammenfassung

Experimentelle histotoxische Hypoxämie wurde in Ratten durch Natriumacid-Vergiftung erzeugt. Die mikroskopische Untersuchung der Hirne ergab keine Veränderung, aber bei der elektronenmikroskopischen Untersuchung fanden sich als Frühveränderungen in der Hirnrinde und im Subcortex eine Erweiterung der intercellulären Räume und eine Anschwellung der pericapillären Astrocytenfortsätze. Ferritinalbumin-Mischung, die als Indicator des Eiweißtransportes benutzt wurde, zeigte keine Vermehrung der Capillarpermeabilität. Es wird vermutet, daß Natriumacid den Wasserstoffwechsel beeinträchtigt, wobei es eine osmotische Ausgleichstörung im Gehirn erzeugt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Hiroshi Shibasaki

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Hiroshi Shibasaki

  3. Dept. of Neurology, Univ. of Minnesota, 55455, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Hiroshi Shibasaki

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  1. Hiroshi Shibasaki
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Shibasaki, H. Electron microscope study of the rat brain with experimental sodium azide intoxication. Acta Neuropathol 14, 185–193 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685298

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685298

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